DEFENCE

Biological Warfare

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what prophylactic research has been conducted by his Department and agencies responsible to his Department into (a) anthrax and (b) other biological agents.

Geoff Hoon: The remit of Defence Science Technology Laboratory Chemical (Dstl) and Biological Sciences at Porton Down is to provide the UK and its armed forces with safe and effective protection in the event of exposure to chemical or biological weapons. This involves conducting research into prophylactic measures, such as vaccines, antibiotics or antivirals for a variety of different biological agents including anthrax.
	Dstl Porton Down seeks to publish the results of its research wherever security considerations allow. In recent years work has been published on a new vaccine against plague, which is currently undergoing clinical trials and the development of a new vaccine against anthrax which it is hoped will enter clinical trials in the near future. Additionally, research results on various prophylactic measures against a range of agents and diseases including Tularaemia, VEE, SEB, Brucellosis, Glanders, Ricin and Botulinum toxin have been published in the peer reviewed technical literature.

Biological Warfare

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the potential for aerosol cloud travel; and what clinical and epidemiological data on human infections has been collated relating to a deliberate release of contagious organisms and toxins.

Geoff Hoon: The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory Porton Down has developed a package of state of the art atmospheric dispersion models to determine the potential travel of aerosol clouds.
	These models form part of an extensive suite of tools and data which are used by the Ministry of Defence to assess the potential hazard posed by chemical and biological weapons. For agents of biological origin, the data include estimates of the human toxicity or infectivity, the transmissibility, atmospheric stability and the availability of detection, protection and medical countermeasures.

Cluster Bombs

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what plans he has to review the use of cluster bombs by the armed forces; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what recent representations he has received regarding the use of cluster bombs.

Adam Ingram: A large number of hon. Members have written to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence requesting reaction to recent large scale postcard campaigns co-ordinated by the non-governmental organisations Tearfund, Activist and Landmine Action. These pre-printed postcards express concerns about cluster bombs.
	The Government have no plans to review the use of cluster bombs, which are a legitimate weapon that provide a capability against certain targets which cannot be effectively achieved in other ways.
	Unexploded ordnance, including unexploded cluster bomblets, will form a major theme of the Review Conference of the UN Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) in December 2001. Our central aim there will be to work towards a practical solution that secures our necessary capability as well as addressing humanitarian concerns.

Prisoners of War (Compensation)

Peter Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what guidance his Department has given to the Association of British Civilian Internees Far East Region as to the criteria former prisoners of the Japanese are required to meet in order to qualify for the ex gratia payments announced on 7 November 2000.

Lewis Moonie: The ex gratia scheme for former captives of the Japanese is administered by the War Pensions Agency, which became an Executive Agency of the Ministry of Defence with effect from 8 June 2001.
	A leaflet setting out who can claim the ex gratia payment was issued to all those who contacted the War Pensions Agency for information and with every claim form. Copies were also sent to all ex-service organisations and groups representing civilian internees. The eligibility criteria relating to civilian internees were set out in my answer on 11 July 2001, Official Report, columns 516–17W to the hon. Member for Macclesfield (Mr. Winterton).

Royal Navy Vessels

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which Royal Navy vessels are deployed east of Suez; and in what role they operate.

Adam Ingram: The following Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels are currently deployed east of Suez:
	HMS Illustrious, HMS Cornwall, HMS Marlborough, HMS Southampton, HMS Monmouth, HMS Fearless, HMS Ocean, HMS Nottingham, HMS Inverness, HMS Cattistock, HMS Quorn, HMS Walney, HMS Roebuck, HMS Kent, HMS Beagle, HMS Northumberland, HMS Triumph, HMS Trafalgar, HMS Superb, RFA Fort Victoria, RFA Brambleleaf, RFA Sir Tristram, RFA Sir Bedivere, RFA Sir Percivale, RFA Sir Galahad, RFA Fort Rosalie, RFA Fort Austin, RFA Oakleaf, RFA Diligence, RFA Sea Centurion, RFA Bayleaf.
	The majority of Royal Navy vessels deployed east of Suez are part of Argonaut 01, a routine training deployment, the primary focus of which is Exercise Saif Sareea II in Oman. The vessels involved in Exercise Saif Sareea II are split into a number of Task Groups as follows:
	A Carrier Group led by HMS Illustrious comprising: HMS Cornwall, HMS Marlborough, HMS Southampton and HMS Monmouth. The group is supported by RFA Fort Victoria and RFA Brambleleaf.
	An Amphibious Group led by HMS Fearless comprising: HMS Ocean, HMS Nottingham and Landing Ships RFA Sir Tristram, RFA Sir Bedivere, RFA Sir Percivale, RFA Sir Galahad with support provided by RFA Fort Rosalie, RFA Fort Austin and RFA Oakleaf.
	A Mine Countermeasure Group comprising of HMS Inverness, HMS Cattistock, HMS Quorn and HMS Walney with support from RFA Diligence.
	The survey ship HMS Roebuck is conducting Survey Operations and Beach Survey in support of Saif Sareea II.
	In addition, RFA Sea Centurion, which remains in the Gulf, has provided heavy lift for Exercise Saif Sareea.
	HMS Kent is deployed to the Gulf as the Armilla Patrol ship with her support ship RFA Bayleaf. RFA Bayleaf is also participating in Exercise Saif Sareea II. In addition, the survey ship HMS Beagle is in the Gulf on a long planned deployment and briefly participate in Saif Sareea II before resuming her Survey Operations.
	HMS Northumberland is also deployed east of Suez. Initially tasked as the Armilla Patrol ship, on relief, she subsequently deployed out of area in order to participate in long-standing commitments in Australia.
	HMS Triumph, HMS Trafalgar and HMS Superb are currently deployed east of Suez on operational tasking.

Royal Navy Vessels

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what visits are planned by Royal Navy ships to Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong or Singapore in the next 12 months.

Adam Ingram: HMS Nottingham is scheduled to deploy to the Asia Pacific region between March-December 2002 to meet our annual commitments to the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) with Singapore, Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand. Her programme is currently under consideration, and while specific details remain confidential for security reasons, it is hoped that port visits to Singapore, Australia and New Zealand will be undertaken during her deployment.
	HMS York is also scheduled to deploy to the Asia Pacific region between January-June 2002 as an integral part of a multinational French Task Group deployment. Her programme is currently under consideration in consultation with the French authorities but it is anticipated that the programme will include visits to both Singapore and Australia.

Non-lethal Weapons

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many individuals comprised the UK participants in each of the formal meetings and war games under the auspices of the US-UK Master Exchange Memorandum of Understanding on Non-Lethal Weapons; from which organisations; and what the estimated cost was of UK participation in each event.

Adam Ingram: I am withholding the information requested under exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information as disclosure could affect the conduct of business under the agreement. The detailed costings for each event could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Forces Personnel

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the shortfall in personnel is in the (a) Army, (b) Royal Marines, (c) Royal Air Force and (d) Royal Navy.

Adam Ingram: In the case of the trained strength of the Army, the shortfall against the current requirement as at 1 September 2001 stood at 6,669. In the case of the other Services, the shortfalls were: RN 1,358, RM 313 and RAF 1,029.

Apache Helicopter Programme

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what delays there have been in the Apache helicopter programme; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 22 October 2001
	The Apache aircraft delivery programme has remained close to schedule since contract award in March 1996. The in-service date, based on the delivery of nine aircraft, was achieved on 16 January 2001, only two weeks later than contractually scheduled.
	However, Apache aircrew training has been delayed by eight months due to problems with the Full Mission Simulator (FMS). Substantial progress has been made towards resolving these problems, but the FMS is not expected to become available until May 2002. Aircrew training is now scheduled to begin in June 2002. In the meantime, some training is being undertaken in the US.

Golden Jubilee

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to recognise all those who have served less than five years in the armed forces as part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 22 October 2001
	There are no specific plans to recognise the service of any members of the Armed Forces as part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations. As my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced on 15 February, a Golden Jubilee Medal will be instituted. It will be awarded to uniformed members of the Armed Forces, who are serving on the 6 February 2002, the anniversary of The Queen's accession, and have completed five years or more qualifying service. There are no plans to extend this to all serving members of the Armed Forces. The purpose of the medal is to commemorate the Golden Jubilee, not to recognise the service of its recipients.

Gurkhas

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to increase the pay of Gurkha service men to the same level as that of British service men.

Adam Ingram: Under the terms of the Tri-Partite Agreement (TPA) between India, Nepal and the UK, Gurkha pay is linked to the Indian Army pay code. Gurkhas also receive a cost of living allowance known as Universal Addition payable wherever a Gurkha serves. This combination of basic Indian Army pay and Universal Addition, means that overall total Gurkha remuneration is in line with the net pay of comparable British service men. These arrangements have been in place since 1997

Gurkhas

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the Gurkha regiments; and what plans he has to increase the number of Gurkhas serving in the British armed forces.

Adam Ingram: The total number of trained Gurkhas in the British Army as at 1 September, was 3,500. There are two Gurkha Infantry Regiments serving with the British Army; 1 Royal Gurkha Rifles and 2 Royal Gurkha Rifles. Gurkha Reinforcement Companies are currently serving with the 2nd Battalion Parachute Regiment, 1 Royal Irish and 1 Highlanders. There are also formed Gurkha units serving with 10 Transport Regiment, 30 Signal Regiment, 36 Engineer Regiment and in training establishments at Sandhurst and Brecon. In addition, there are small numbers of Gurkha service men serving as "Attached Arms" within numerous other units and establishments across the British.
	There are no plans to increase the total number of Gurkhas in the future.

Anti-anthrax Drugs

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what additions to the MOD stockpile of anti-anthrax drugs were acquired in the six-week period prior to 11 September.

Lewis Moonie: Potential drugs for post exposure treatment of anthrax are Ciprofloxacin or Doxycycline but these antibiotics are also used to treat a wide range of clinical conditions. Other than supplies to meet ongoing primary and secondary healthcare requirements, no additional quantities of these drugs were acquired in the six-week period prior to 11 September.

Afghanistan

Peter Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements have been made by the Ministry of Defence to treat service personnel who may be injured in Afghanistan and the surrounding areas.

Geoff Hoon: The current UK contribution to coalition operations in Afghanistan comprises Royal Navy submarines equipped with Tomahawk land attack missiles and Royal Air Force assets supporting the air campaign. Suitable medical facilities are available on board the submarines and at the air bases from which the aircraft are operating. An aeromedical evacuation capability is also in place should any casualties need to be returned to the UK for treatment.

Dublin and Monaghan Bombings

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if his Department has responded to requests for information from the Independent Commission of Inquiry into the Dublin and Monaghan bombings of 17 May 1974 by the delivery of relevant documents; and if he will make a statement.

John Reid: The request from Mr. Justice Henry Barron, the Independent Commissioner of Inquiry into the Dublin, Monaghan and Dundalk bombings, was shared with all relevant Government Departments and agencies. This has led to an extensive and time-consuming manual search of a large number of old files. As soon as this has been completed I will make a single co-ordinated response to Mr. Justice Barron.
	I am replying on behalf of the Secretary of State for Defence and the Secretary of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards

Peter Bottomley: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, if he will provide the House with an opportunity to invite Elizabeth Filkin to accept a second term as Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards.

Archy Kirkwood: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Broxbourne (Mrs. Roe) on 18 October 2001, Official Report, column 1285W.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

India

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the influence which the GATS (general agreement on trade on services) agreement will have on the biodiversity in the Ghats forest of India.

Hilary Benn: Our preliminary assessment is that, in its present but still evolving form, the GATS agreement will have no specific influence on the biodiversity in the western and eastern Ghats forests of India.

Romania

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the impact of foot and mouth disease on the supply of Christmas gift boxes to Romanian orphanages.

Hilary Benn: Romanian import regulations are becoming more restrictive, made more so by a Government decision earlier this year. Restrictions are not limited to the import of foodstuffs but also, among other things, the import of clothing and toys. The British Embassy in Bucharest are aware of this issue and are taking it up with the Romanian authorities.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Nuclear Security

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will place in the Library a copy of the report by the Office for Civil Nuclear Security on nuclear security.

Brian Wilson: When the Office for Civil Nuclear Security joined the Department of Trade and Industry on 1 October 2000, the Minister announced that the Director would make an annual report which would be placed in the Library of both Houses. No report has yet been received as OCNS has not yet been part of the Department for a full financial year. I expect to receive a report in March 2002, which I shall place in the Library of the House.

Nuclear Security

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the terms of reference for the review of nuclear security being conducted by the OCNS include the security implications of commissioning the Sellafield MOX plant and the transportation of MOX fuel to overseas customers.

Brian Wilson: All aspects of the security of nuclear installations and transportation of nuclear material are kept under continuing review by the Director of Civil Nuclear Security, who regulates security in the civil nuclear industry.

Minimum Wage

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to amend the regulations relating to the National Minimum Wage Act 1998; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Johnson: We have no such plans. The national minimum wage has been a resounding success bringing substantial benefits to nearly 1.5 million workers, especially women and part-time workers, without having had any significant adverse impact on employment or the economy. The operation of the minimum wage is kept continually under review to ensure that this success is maintained.

Cumbria Business Link

Tim Collins: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the availability of funds to Cumbria Business Link.

Nigel Griffiths: Business Link Cumbria receives funding from the Small Business Service for the delivery of support services to small and medium-sized enterprises and those considering setting up in business in Cumbria. This financial year, Business Link Cumbria has available 1,456,274 for the delivery of a range of business support services, including support for high growth start-ups. Business Link Cumbria also receive resources to support farmers, including those directly affected by the outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD) under the Farm Business Advice Services. The North West Development Agency has also made available resources, via the Business Recovery Fund, to assist non-agricultural businesses who are experiencing difficulties as a result of FMD.
	There are further sources of public funding which Business Link Cumbria may be able to access. These include European Structural Funds as well as funding from local authorities and other resources from the North West Development Agency. In addition, Business Link Cumbria can seek contributions towards service delivery from private sources.

Coal Reserves

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what provisions have been made to make use of reserves of coal in the UK that are readily available.

Brian Wilson: Provisions of the Coal Industry Act 1994 vested ownership of the nation's coal reserves in the Coal Authority. In carrying out its function of licensing coal-mining operations, the Authority must have regard to its statutory duty to endeavour to maintain and develop an economically viable domestic coal-mining industry.

Turkish Banks (Union Recognition)

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement concerning the tactics adopted by Turkish banks in the City relating to union recognition.

Alan Johnson: The Central Arbitration Committee is currently considering an application for recognition involving Turkiye Is Bankasi. The committee is independent and the Government do not intervene in its consideration of individual cases under the statutory recognition procedure.

Small Business Service

Linda Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress the Small Business Service has made in identifying barriers faced by women and ethnic minority entrepreneurs since April 2000; and what action has been taken as a result.

Nigel Griffiths: The Small Business Service (SBS) has undertaken research and taken action to identify and tackle the barriers faced by women and ethnic minority entrepreneurs.
	Firstly, SBS has commissioned research to explore the evidence of barriers (as part of research strategy on socially excluded groups). Reports on women and ethnic minority entrepreneurs have been completed and the reports are now publicly available. Other research projects are ongoing.
	Secondly, SBS has sponsored two events to help identify barriers:
	a Kingston University Seminar on 1 May 2001 to examine ethnic minority businesses; and
	sponsorship of a three-day female entrepreneurship conference at Durham, 1012 September 2001.
	Thirdly, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry created an Ethnic Minority Business Forum in July 2000. The forum's remit to strengthen Government's dialogue with ethnic minority business communities. It advises the Secretary of State and the SBS Chief Executive, David Irwin, on policies to help ethnic minority communities at work and in running their own businesses. Its first annual report was published on 18 September 2001. The DTI and SBS plan to respond formally to the report's recommendations at the forum's next meeting on 4 December.
	Fourthly, SBS is supporting projects through the Phoenix Development Fund to encourage innovative ways of promoting enterprise in deprived areas, and among groups of people currently under-represented in terms of business ownership. Of the 96 projects currently supported, 37 directly target women or ethnic minorities.
	All SBS and Business Link services aim to meet the needs of all existing and would-be entrepreneurs, regardless of their gender or ethnicity. We will continue to research barriers which exclusively or disproportionately affect women or ethnic minority entrepreneurs, and where appropriate will take prompt and efficient action to remove these or reduce their impact.

Railtrack

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what investigations she has carried out into the management of Railtrack Group plc and Railtrack plc.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 18 October 2001
	It is not the policy of my Department to comment on the affairs of particular companies.
	Where I consider it to be in the public interest I may use discretionary powers under the Companies Acts to conduct inquiries if it appears that there has been misconduct in relation to the affairs of a company. If the hon. Member provides my officials with evidence that he considers justifies an investigation, my officials will give it full consideration.

Manufacturing

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on employment in manufacturing in Worcestershire.

Alan Johnson: The latest Labour Force Survey figures show that in Worcestershire over the last 12 months there were on average around 5,000 more manufacturing jobs than in the previous 12 months.

Advantage West Midlands

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of Advantage West Midlands' budget will be spent in Worcestershire in the current financial year.

Alan Johnson: Advantage West Midlands spend in Worcestershire for the financial year 200102 is around 2.2 million. This amounts to around 1.3 per cent. of its total budget for the period.

General Agreement on Trade in Services

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to inform local government of the Government's negotiating position on the General Agreement on Trade in Services, with particular reference to the application of the agreement to measures taken by central, regional or local governments and authorities. [R]

Nigel Griffiths: The Government will, as part of the normal consultation process, consult with bodies such as the LGA in relation to any requests made of the European Community that touch on local government interest. I am aware that the Scottish Parliament is also considering this.

Plutonium

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what value was put on British Nuclear Fuels'- owned stocks of (a) plutonium and (b) reprocessed uranium, in the entry for British Nuclear Fuels at page 490 of The National Asset Register, CM5221.

Brian Wilson: These items were given a nil value.

Ilisu Dam (Turkey)

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will extend the consultation period on the Ilisu Dam project in South East Turkey to November.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 15 October 2001
	I do not intend to extend the closing date for comments on the Environmental Impact Assessment Report. This Report was made publicly available on 3 July 2001 and the public were informed that comments received by 7 September 2001 would be taken into account when I make my decision regarding ECGD support for the Ilisu Project. A number of comments have been received during this period and these are being reviewed.

Ilisu Dam (Turkey)

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment her Department has made of the Environmental Impact Assessment on the Ilisu Dam project in south-east Turkey; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 15 October 2001
	ECGD has commissioned consultants' reports on the Environmental Impact Assessment Report on the Ilisu Dam Project and also on the Resettlement Action Plan. These reports are being studied, together with the comments received from non-governmental organisations and the public. The reports and the comments received will be the subject of discussion with other interested Government Departments, in particular the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport prior to any decision being taken regarding ECGD support.

Renewable Energy

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she will lay before the House the order to establish the renewable obligation on electricity suppliers; and if she will make a statement.

Brian Wilson: We published our Statutory Consultation on the Renewables Obligation in August. The consultation period has just ended and we are now analysing the responses received with a view to bringing forward an Order in the House before Christmas, subject to availability of parliamentary time and State Aid clearance from the European Commission.

Wind Turbines

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of wind turbines operating in the UK were manufactured domestically.

Brian Wilson: holding answer 15 October 2001
	The proportion of wind turbines operating in the UK that were manufactured domestically is estimated to be just under 6 per cent. The proportion containing UK components is estimated to be at least 43 per cent.
	Much more British manufacturing of wind turbines and components is expected in the future. Aerolaminates have moved into a new larger factory with much greater capacity on the Isle of Wight. As well as blades, they are now supplying some complete turbine rotors to their parent company, NEG-Micon. Cambrian Engineering have manufactured, or have orders, for 95 per cent. of the wind turbine towers to be installed in the UK this year. Vestas, who are among the world-leaders in wind turbine manufacture, announced in June that they are to start UK operations at Machrihanish near Campbeltown in the west of Scotland where their new factory will create 124 direct jobs and 44 associated jobs.

Wave and Tidal Energy

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what further research she plans to assess the environmental impact of wave and tidal energy devices; and if she will make a statement.

Brian Wilson: The Department has carried out general studies on the potential impact of offshore energy devices, as well as Environmental Impact Assessments for specific schemes, including one for a proposed tidal stream development. These studies indicate that, providing the schemes are deployed with some care, they should not have any significant adverse effect on the environment and simple steps can be taken to ensure that such schemes are not a navigation or environmental hazard.

Wave and Tidal Energy

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what estimate she has made of the numbers of new jobs which will be generated by (a) 2010 and (b) 2020 in wave and tidal power companies in the UK;
	(2)  what estimate she has made of the size of the (a) domestic and (b) overseas markets for wave and tidal energy in (i) 2010 and (ii) 2020; and if she will make a statement.

Brian Wilson: The recent report of the Science and Technology Committee Inquiry into wave and tidal energy estimated that energy from wave and tidal currents around the UK have the theoretical potential to generate about 25 per cent. of the nation's electricity.
	The same report estimated that if 0.1 per cent. of the energy resource in the ocean could be converted to electricity it would satisfy the present world demand for energy five times over.
	This represents a significant new source of energy and the Department is vigorously encouraging and assisting industry to develop promising technologies. Success in this would lead to the development of new sustainable industries but it is too early in the technology development to provide reliable estimates of the size of the market and jobs.

Wave and Tidal Energy

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what further research funding is planned to increase the efficiency of wave and tidal power devices;
	(2)  what plans her Department has to provide further assistance for stimulating wave and tidal power.

Brian Wilson: In the case of wave energy, my Department has already supported the development of the world's first commercial wave power device at Islay, and we recently announced that we will provide further support to the company involved, Wavegen, by increasing the level of RD funding for their most recent project to almost 1.67 million. This funding will assist with the further development of their new offshore wave energy concept and the construction and testing at sea of a prototype. This substantial funding confirms the Government's commitment to its new wave energy programme.
	The Department commissioned a study into the prospects for tidal stream technology in the UK and this has now been completed. It was positive about the prospects for tidal stream, and is being taken forward in association with the industry. There are a useful amount of tidal currents around the shores of the UK and these are already well charted. There a number of sites where tidal stream generators could be deployed, but as yet no prototype device. Tidal stream is now covered as a technology in my Department's Sustainable Energy Programme.
	The Department recently initiated a call for proposals under the Sustainable Energy Programme, which invites bids for funds to support the development of both wave and tidal power. The level of funding will be dependent on the number of good quality RD proposals which are received from the industry.
	Both technologies will also continue to be eligible for funding for RD into Electricity Generation from renewable and clean sources from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). This programme provides 3.5 million of support per year for research into the full range of renewables technologies. To date, wave and tidal projects have received over 769,000 of support from this source.
	We anticipate that the introduction of the Renewables Obligation will also provide a further stimulus to these and the wider range of eligible renewables, including wave and tidal power. Both technologies may also benefit from a proportion of the 100 million announced by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister earlier this year.

Renewable Energy (Planning Applications)

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what timescale her Department has set for the implementation of a one-stop-shop for offshore renewable planning applications; and when she expects the first planning application under this system to be granted.

Brian Wilson: Draft guidance describing the streamlined consenting process for offshore windfarms has recently been circulated by my Department to the industry and all the main statutory consultees for comment. A copy is being placed in the Libraries of both Houses. I intend that the guidance will be finalised shortly. The first application under this system has been received and the consenting authorities are now progressing the application in consultation with the developer as necessary but I am not able to say when the process will be complete.

Offshore Energy Technologies

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will encourage development and long term investment in the energy potential of a range of offshore technologies.

Brian Wilson: The Department has put in place a range of measures to encourage and assist development and long term investment in offshore technologies.
	The Government have allocated at least 49 million to capital grants for offshore wind. 39 million will come from DTI, the remainder from the New Opportunities Fund. The capital grants programme was officially launched this week, and application forms/guidance notes are now available from DTI at www.dti.gov.uk/renew/ eoi.htm. These grants will support early deployment of a number of demonstration projects and enable the industry to develop a bank of knowledge and expertise to maximise the contribution of this technology to the UK's 10 per cent. target. We have also consulted recently on the offshore consents process and plan to bring forward a new 'one-stop-shop' approach which should make it easier for project developers to get their projects up and running.
	Already this year, 18 wind farm developments have achieved pre-qualification status for a lease of sea bed from the Crown Estate. We hope to see these projects coming to fruition as quickly as possible. In the light of the interest expressed in the first round of leases we would also hope that the Crown Estate can provide further opportunities.
	In connection with support provided to wave and tidal power, I would refer my hon. Friend to the questions answered early today PQ's ref No. 8256 and 8253.
	All three technologies will also benefit from the forthcoming introduction of the Renewables Obligation. The Obligation marks a significant commitment by Government to the renewables industry as a whole, with the potential to create a market worth over 1 billion per annum by the year 2010. We have backed up our commitment to the Obligation with funding worth over 260 million for this and the next two financial years, including the capital grants funding and RD programmes already mentioned. A proportion of the 100 million for renewables announced by the Prime Minister earlier this year may also be allocated to the early deployment of offshore technologies.

Electricity Transmission Lines

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action the Government are taking to provide incentives for the strengthening of electricity transmission lines to enable the expansion of grid connections.

Brian Wilson: This is a matter for the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem). I have asked the Director of Regulation and Financial Affairs to reply and will place a copy of his letter in the Library of the House.

Departmental Spending

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the total amount of spending by her Department was in each nation and region of the UK, in the last year for which figures are available; what proportion of her Department's total spending this constitutes; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 15 October 2001, Official Report, columns 85456W, to the hon. Member for Banff and Buchan (Mr. Salmond).

Ministerial Visits

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  on how many occasions in each year since 1992 non-commercial flights were used by Ministers in her Department for official overseas visits; what the (a) destination, (b) Ministers involved, (c) cost and (d) reason for use of non-commercial flights were on each occasion; and if she will make a statement.
	(2)  if she will list all official overseas visits undertaken by Ministers in her Department in each year since May 1997, indicating (a) the cost in (i) cash and (ii) real terms, (b) the number and grade of (i) civil servants and (ii) special advisers accompanying ministers and (c) the number of official engagements or meetings undertaken on each visit; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's answer on 15 October 2001, Official Report, column 823W.

PRIME MINISTER

Afghanistan

Jane Griffiths: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the latest situation with regard to the bombing in Afghanistan.

Tony Blair: I attended the informal meeting of EU Heads of Government in Belgium on 19 October.
	The meeting was originally called to have an informal discussion about the future institutional development of the European Union. In the light of 11 September we, the Presidency and all our partners, wanted to use the meeting to focus on developments in Afghanistan.
	The continuing and wholehearted solidarity of the European Union in the face of the 11 September attacks was confirmed in the discussion in Ghent on Friday and in the statement which was issued, a copy of which I have placed in the Library of the House. The statement emphasises the crucial need to relaunch the middle east peace process without preconditions.
	The European Union's solidarity with the United States has been shown in action as well as in words, not just by our own contribution but by those of other EU partners.
	Since the beginning of this crisis, we and our EU partners have placed as much importance on the humanitarian as on the military aspects of our campaign. So far this year, aid amounting to over 310 million euros has been mobilised by the European Union to relieve the suffering of the Afghan people. That includes emergency aid and food aid released through the world food programme.
	The EU has also been looking to the protection of our own citizens. The Commission has proposed uniform EU-wide security and safety standards in aviation, standards which have already been significantly tightened across the EU since 11 September. The co-operation between civil protection authorities across the EU has been stepped up and we are developing an EU system for surveillance and control of communicable diseases, including an early warning and response system to help us deal with threats from biological or chemical agents. EU-wide legislation is being negotiated on common penalties for terrorist offences and a European arrest warrant.
	I have also placed in the Library statements on the economic situation in the European Union and on preparations for the euro. At the meeting, I stressed the importance of sticking to the economic reform agenda we outlined at the Lisbon Summit 18 months ago. The essential requirement in the present economic climate is to create jobs and that will happen if, at EU level and beyond, we can open up markets in energy, financial services, transport and other sectors. We also have to be steadfast for free trade. I welcome the commitment of Prime Minister Aznar to pursue that economic reform agenda vigorously under the Spanish Presidency.

Foot and Mouth

Tim Collins: To ask the Prime Minister when he last met Lord Haskins to discuss the impact of foot and mouth disease in Cumbria; and when he next plans to do so.

Tony Blair: I have meetings with a wide range of organisations and individuals. As with previous Administrations, it is not my practice to provide details of such meetings.

Jo Moore

Peter Luff: To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral answer of 17 October 2001, Official Report, column 1165, if people serving in his office requested the resignation of Jo Moore, adviser to the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and Regions; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: I have made my position clear on this, and I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him in the House on Wednesday 17 October 2001, Official Report, column 1165. I regard the matter as closed.

Defeating Terrorism: Campaign Objectives

Alex Salmond: To ask the Prime Minister if the information released by Her Majesty's Government to the British media, during an official briefing in Oman on 10 October 2001, entitled Defeating Terrorism: Campaign Objectives is identical to the document placed in the Library on 16 October, entitled Defeating International Terrorism: Campaign Objectives.

Tony Blair: Yes. The document was published on Tuesday 16 October by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary. It was made available to MPs and the media at the same time. However, the information and arguments in the document have been drawn on by Ministers and officials since it was first drawn up several weeks ago.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Dublin and Monaghan Bombings

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  which Government Departments and agencies have been asked whether they hold any information relevant to the request for information from the independent commission of inquiry into the Dublin and Monaghan bombings on 17 May 1974 established by the Irish Government; when he will provide information to the commission; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if his Department has responded to requests for information from the independent commission of inquiry into the Dublin and Monaghan bombings of 17 May 1974 by the delivery of relevant documents; and if he will make a statement.

John Reid: The request from Mr. Justice Henry Barron, the Independent Commissioner of Inquiry into the Dublin, Monaghan and Dundalk bombings, was shared with all relevant Government Departments and agencies. This has led to an extensive and time-consuming manual search of a large number of old files. As soon as this has been completed I will make a single co-ordinated response to Mr. Justice Barron.
	I am replying on behalf of the Secretary of State for Defence and the Secretary of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Dublin and Monaghan Bombings

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if his Department has responded to requests for information from the Independent Commission of Inquiry into the Dublin and Monaghan bombings of 17 May 1974 by the delivery of relevant documents; and if he will make a statement.

John Reid: The request from Mr. Justice Henry Barron, the Independent Commissioner of Inquiry into the Dublin, Monaghan and Dundalk bombings, was shared with all relevant Government Departments and agencies. This has led to an extensive and time-consuming manual search of a large number of old files. As soon as this has been completed I will make a single co-ordinated response to Mr. Justice Barron.
	I am replying on behalf of the Secretary of State for Defence and the Secretary of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Turkey

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect of sanctions upon the economy and social welfare of the south-east Anatolia region of Turkey and its Kurdish inhabitants; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Hain: There are no sanctions against Turkey. There is little evidence to show that the economy in south-east Anatolia has suffered as a result of sanctions against Iraq. The United Kingdom firmly supports Turkish economic reform through institutions such as the IMF and the European Commission. We believe implementation of economic and structural reforms should help raise market confidence in Turkey and improve the long-term prosperity of the Turkish people.

Protocol

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will indicate whether the Mayor of London or the Lord Mayor of London has the higher protocol status as regards invitations and functions originated by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: This is a matter for the Lord Chancellor's Department; however, I understand that the position is as follows: there are conventions governing functions held in the City of London where the Lord Mayor of London takes precedence immediately after the Sovereign.
	Outside the City, guidance will vary depending on the nature or location of the function. In more ceremonial events with a wider or national basis that include members of the Royal Family, the Lord Mayor may continue to have precedence over the Mayor of London, but, in other events, where no member of the Royal Family is present, the event organisers will take into account the nature of the function and the necessary courtesies.

Sri Lanka

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what representations he has made to the Sri Lankan Government regarding (a) the situation of the Tamil people and (b) human rights violations against the Tamil people;
	(2)  if he will list the recent meetings he has had with representatives of the Sri Lankan Government regarding the situation of the Tamil people.

Ben Bradshaw: We are concerned about the plight of civilians affected by the conflict and urge the Government and the LTTE to cease hostilities and negotiate a peaceful settlement. The Prime Minister and the then Foreign Secretary, my right hon. Friend the Member for Livingston (Mr. Cook), reiterated our support for the peace process when they met President Kumaratunga and Foreign Minister Kadirgamar in March.

Sri Lanka

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  if he will list the representations that he has received from representatives of the Tamil people regarding human rights in Sri Lanka;
	(2)  if he will list the recent meetings he has had with representatives of the Tamil people regarding human rights violations in Sri Lanka.

Ben Bradshaw: Staff in our High Commission in Colombo regularly meet representatives from all communities in Sri Lanka, including the Tamil community. We stay in touch with UK-based Sri Lankan groups and human rights organisations. We remain concerned by reports of human rights abuses in Sri Lanka and continue to remind the Government of the need to respect human rights. We are also concerned about human rights abuses committed by the LTTE and reports that they are still using child soldiers.

Maluku

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the UK contribution to the work of the United Nations Development Programme in respect of the international humanitarian response to the conflict in Maluku.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department for International Development (DFID) has pledged more than 4 million to help establish the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) conflict prevention and recovery unit in Jakarta. The unit will build up capacity in conflict reduction and recovery in the provinces torn apart by ethnic conflict, particularly in north Maluku. These new initiatives will complement DFID-supported humanitarian relief programmes by addressing the causes underlying conflictabuse of power, alienation and loss of access to and control of resources essential for every day life. We will continue to work with the Indonesian authorities and UNDP to promote reconciliation, begin wider reconstruction work and to offer practical assistance where appropriate.
	The UK's message to the Indonesian Government has been consistently clear: a long-term solution to regional conflicts can only be achieved through political negotiation and consultation with the people.

Travel Advice

Peter Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what safety advice is given to persons planning to travel abroad.

Ben Bradshaw: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office issues travel advice notices for over 200 countries. These notices are constantly reviewed on the basis of information received from British missions overseas. The advice varies from country to country and we advise any British nationals intending to travel abroad to read the relevant advice prior to travel. This advice can be accessed: on the FCO website at www.fco.gov.uk/; by telephone on 020 7008 0232/0233; by fax on 020 7008 0155/0164; or by letter to the travel advice unit in our Consular Division.

Travel Advice

Peter Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to which countries his Department is recommending that holidaymakers should not travel.

Ben Bradshaw: As at 19 October the FCO advises against travel to the following countries:
	Afghanistan; Burundi; Central African Republic; Iraq; Pakistan; Tajikistan; Somalia; Yemen and to the following specific areas:
	Azerbaijan (western region of Nagorno-Karabakh and the militarily occupied area surrounding it); Republic of the Congo (except Brazzaville and Pointe Noire only); Ecuador (northern border areas with Colombia particularly Sucumbios province); Eritrea (south of the Barentu-Dekemahare line and the Eritrea/Sudan border area); Ethiopia (east of the Harar to Gode line, and within 20 kms of the Eritrean border in the Tigray and Afar regions only); Guinea (border region with Liberia and Sierra Leone only); India (Jammu and Kashmir only); Indonesia (Aceh, Ambon and the rest of Maluku province, Nias island, central Kalimantan and Poso in central Sulawesi only); Israel and the Palestinian authority (only west bank and Gaza and Israel/Lebanon and Israel/Gaza border areas); Kyrgyzstan (south and west of Osh only and the Ferghana valley region only); Liberia (north-west only); Mozambique (Montepuez only); Namibia (border areas from Ruacana eastwards to Kongola and Namibia/Angola border areas north of the trans Caprivi highway); Philippines (southern and western Mindanao); Russian Federation (Chechen republic, Ingushetia, Dagestan, north Ossetia, Karachai-Cherkassia, Kabardino-Balkaria (including the Elbrus area) and to the eastern and southern parts of Stavrapol Krai only); Somalia (southern Somalia and the north-east region (Puntland) only); Sri Lanka (north and east only); Uganda (Mgahinga and Bwindi national parks, border areas with the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Sudan, Gulu and Kitgum and Bundibugyo districts only): and against all holiday and other non-essential travel to:
	Algeria; Angola; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Cote D'Ivoire; East Timor; Haiti; Indonesia; Macedonia; Sierra Leone; and against all holiday and other non-essential travel to the following specific areas:
	Albania (the border with Kosovo only); Comoros (Anjouan only); Republic of the Congo (Brazzaville and Pointe Noire only); Ethiopia (across the land border to Djibouti); India (Manipur and Tripura only); Liberia (and against all travel to north-west); Philippines (Mindanao and Palawan only); Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Kosovo only).

Cultural Projects (Islam)

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what cultural projects with new funding arrangements have been initiated by (a) the British Council and (b) BBC World Service to broaden understanding of the Muslim world since 11 September.

Denis MacShane: The BBC World Service continues to serve as an independent forum for the exchange of ideas across cultural boundaries. BBC World Service news and current affairs programmes across all 43 of its language services have paid special attention to Islamic issues since 11 September. Regional language services have been enhanced, for which extra funding will be required. The BBC World Service is currently broadcasting a series on the principles of Islam.
	The British Council is re-prioritising 1 million of current spending as the first step in an initiative called Open Minds, designed to encourage mutual understanding between young people from different cultures. Projects will include with UK diaspora communities, a major expansion of youth and school links, an enhanced dialogue for young professionals and future leaders and the development of on-line links in knowledge and learning centres in the Muslim world.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Carter Report

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the cost of the Carter report was.

Tessa Jowell: The cost of Patrick Carter's reviews into the English National Stadium, and the Lee Valley Stadium was 313,505.

Carter Report

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the cost has been to (a) the National Lottery, (b) the Treasury, (c) her Department and (d) others of the production of the Carter report into Wembley Stadium and Picketts Lock.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 15 October 2001
	The production costs for the reviews conducted into the English National Stadium and the Lee Valley Stadium by Patrick Carter were as follows:
	
		 
		
			  Cost (including VAT) 
		
		
			 Sport England 294,076 
			 Department for Culture, Media and Sport 15,932 
			 Cabinet office 3,497 
			  
			 Total 313,505 
		
	
	The costs incurred by Sport England, my Department and the Cabinet Office exclude the pay cost of officials. Costs were incurred by the Cabinet Office prior to the Commonwealth Games Division, which supported Patrick Carter, transferring to my Department following the General Election. No costs were incurred by the Treasury or the National Lottery. The Reports were delivered on 31 August 2001.

World Athletics Championship

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what discussions (a) Ministers and (b) officials in her Department have had on the prospect of staging the 2005 World Athletics Championship;
	(2)  when (a) Ministers and (b) officials in her Department first (i) met and (ii) spoke to representatives of the (A) Sheffield city council, (B) UK Athletics and (C) Don Valley stadium to discuss the prospect of staging the 2005 World Athletics Championship.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 15 October 2001
	Officials and Ministers have had discussions with a wide variety of interested parties about the staging of the 2005 World Athletics Championships.
	UK Athletics were involved in Patrick Carter's review of the Lee Valley National Athletics Centre project and were briefed by the project team on his conclusions on 4 October. Together with my officials and Sport England, I also met UK Athletics on 4 October to discuss the Championships.
	I have not spoken to or met representatives of Sheffield city council or the Sheffield city trust in connection with the Championships. However, my right hon. Friend the Minister for Sport, who was not involved in the process from 31 August-4 October spoke to both after a decision on the Championships was taken. My officials first met the Chief Executive of Sheffield city council at his request on 20 September to discuss a wide range of sports issues. During that meeting the Chief Executive reiterated Sheffield's offer to stage the 2005 World Athletics Championships. My officials together with Sport England colleagues met representatives of Sheffield city council and Sheffield city trust on 27 September to discuss in detail the feasibility of staging the Championships in Sheffield.

Wembley National Stadium Ltd.

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if Wembley National Stadium Ltd. will be expected to repay any of the grant it received from Sport England; and, if so, how much.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 15 October 2001
	In December 1999, the Football Association offered to repay 20 million of the lottery grant received by Wembley National Stadium Ltd. as the stadium is no longer required to stage athletics. An application to Sport England to amend the Lottery Funding agreement was made by Wembley National Stadium Ltd. and the Football Association in September 2000. A review of the Lottery Funding Agreement will be taken forward in the next stage of the National Stadium project and the Football Association's offer to repay the 20 million will be part of that process.

Tobacco Advertising

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on measures taken to help sports find alternative sponsorship and funding to tobacco advertising.

Richard Caborn: As my hon. Friend is aware, the Tobacco Task Force was set up for the seven sports which sought assistance in the transition from tobacco sponsorship. The Task Force quickly concluded the first phase of its operation which was to identify the needs of the sports currently receiving Tobacco sponsorship and how best they could be assisted.
	I wrote to the seven sports on 28 July to determine whether they still needed assistance and whether they would make use of the Task Force. Since then I have met representatives from snooker and I am due to meet shortly representatives from darts, pool and angling. To date rugby league, ice hockey and clay pigeon shooting have not replied.
	Once these meetings have taken place I will then be in a position to determine what role if any the Task Force will play in the future.

Football (Grants)

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what measures were taken by the Government to ensure that football clubs applying to the Football Foundation and the former Football Trust for grants for improvements to stadiums were awarded them as a result of competitive tendering; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  which clubs received grants from the Football Foundation and the former Football Trust; when such grants were made; and what the value was in each case;
	(3)  if she will list those companies, and the football clubs involved, who were awarded contracts for improvements to grounds funded by the Football Foundation and the former Football Trust; what was the value of such grants in each case; when the grants were awarded; and if she will make a statement;
	(4)  what monitoring has been made of decisions of the Football Foundation and the former Football Trust in allocating grants to football clubs for improvements to stadiums; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: On the winding-up of the Football Trust in 2000, its work in funding football stadium improvements passed to the Football Stadia Improvement Fund, a company limited by guarantee. Details of all stadium improvement grants made to individual clubs by the Fund, and before it by the former Football Trust, together with details of all grants made since July 2000 by the Football Foundation from its grass roots and community/education funds, are deposited regularly in the Library of the House.
	On its inception, the Football Stadia Improvement Fund adopted the tendering policy of the former Football Trust. Contracts for stadium improvement work which is financed by grants from the Fund must be the subject of a minimum of three competitive tenders. In respect of work financed by grants in excess of 100,000, the Fund reserves the right to be present at the opening of the tenders. Although full details of all funded projects are retained by the Fund, and were retained by the former Football Trust, details of individual tenders are not retained by the Fund, and were not retained by the former Football Trust.
	The Government monitor the decisions of the Football Stadia Improvement Fund and the Football Foundation through their representative on the Boards of these bodies, currently Lord Pendry. The Government were also represented on the Board of the former Football Trust. The annual accounts of the Fund, the Football Foundation, and the former Football Trust are and were subject to internal and external audit, and are and were submitted to the Audit Commission.

New Opportunities Fund

John Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the grants paid by the new opportunities fund under the space for sport and the arts initiative.

Richard Caborn: Sport England is administering the grants for the Space for Sport and Arts programme on behalf of the other funding partnersthe New Opportunities Fund, the Arts Council of England, DCMS and DfES. The 65 local education authorities involved in the programme are due to submit detailed applications by the end of October. Only once applications have been received and assessed will final funding allocations for each project be confirmed and the grants issued. Although a small number of applications have been received, no grant has yet been paid.

Golden Jubilee

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what funds will be made available to parish and town councils to fund Golden Jubilee celebrations; and if she will make a statement.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 19 October 2001
	Lottery funding will be available to help local communities mark and celebrate the Golden Jubilee. Local groups, including town and parish councils, can apply through the cross distributor Awards for All for grants of between 500 and 5,000 for Jubilee related projects. Projects must meet existing criteria and involve one or more of the lottery good causes of the arts, sport, heritage, charities, health, education or the environment. Larger applications associated with the Jubilee will be considered by Lottery distributors if the project meets the criteria and timetable of an existing programme or scheme.

Recreation Facilities

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to enhance the protection and preservation of (a) school and (b) community sports and recreation facilities.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 25 June 2001
	We are determined to build on our success in protecting playing fields and improve the playing field infrastructure for both schools and communities. 750 million from the New Opportunities Fund (NOF) will bring about a step change in opportunities for young people to play sport, through new and refurbished school sports facilities, including playing fields, which will be available for community use, throughout the country. NOF has selected Sport England as an Award Partner to deliver an additional 31 million of Lottery money to projects in England for the creation of playing fields and community spaces, as part of NOF's Green Spaces Initiative. My Department will encourage organisations funding green spaces to prioritise their funding allocations in line with local playing field strategies where they are available.
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (DfES) recently issued strengthened Guidance for the Protection of School Playing Fields and Land for City Academies. The new guidance: introduces the role that the new School Playing Field Advisory Panel will play in advising on applications to dispose or change the use of school playing fields and the new criteria under which those applications will be assessed; gives more protection to playing fields provided for pupils under eight; and ensures that any proceeds arising from the sale of playing fields at operating schools are ploughed back into providing outdoor sport or recreational facilities.
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions is currently considering the responses to his consultation on a revised draft of Planning Policy Guidance Note 17 on Sport, Open Spaces and Recreation. My Department is working closely with the DTLR to ensure that the new PPG 17 is robust in strengthening and extending our protection of school and community playing fields, and assists local authorities in planning constructively for sport and recreation for the future.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Landfill (Tyres)

Colin Pickthall: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress is being made towards meeting the EU directive banning disposal of tyres in landfill.

Michael Meacher: The Government have issued for consultation draft regulations giving effect to the requirements of the EC Landfill Directive, including those banning the landfilling of whole and shredded tyres. The consultation period closes on 26 October 2001 and we will then move to lay the regulations before Parliament as soon as possible. In advance of the regulations coming into effect the Environment Agency is using its existing powers under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the Pollution Prevention and Control Regulations 2000 to apply the Directive's requirements to any permits issued in the interim.

Energy Savings

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to extend the obligation on energy suppliers to deliver energy savings to their customers.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 18 October 2001
	Under the Utilities Act 2000, the Government will set an Energy Efficiency Commitment obligation for electricity and gas suppliers for the period 1 April 2002 until 31 March 2005. Under the commitment, electricity and gas suppliers will be required to achieve targets for the promotion of improvements in energy efficiency. There will be a focus on helping lower income consumers, including those in receipt of income and disability benefits.
	A statutory consultation document on our proposals was issued in August, and we are currently considering responses. We intend to lay the Statutory Order for the Commitment during the autumn. It will be subject to affirmative resolution in both Houses of Parliament.

Radioactive Waste

Jackie Lawrence: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will publish the Government consultation document on the storage of nuclear waste.

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what progress she has made towards developing long-term disposal of high level nuclear waste referred to in the Nirex document, Managing Radioactive Waste;
	(2)  when she expects the long-term disposal review of intermediate level nuclear waste, referred to in the Nirex document Managing Radioactive Waste, to be concluded; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: The UK Government and Devolved Administrations published the consultation paper Managing radioactive waste safely on 12 September. People in the UK must have a central role in the decision on how radioactive waste is managed in the future. The paper proposes a programme of national debate and information gathering leading to decisions on the long-term management of radioactive waste, and explores how best we should organise that programme. It does not invite comments at this stage on specific optionssuch as storage or disposalbut it does summarise the main options, so people can always comment on them if they want to.

Foot and Mouth

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list for each county of England the disposal sites which are (a) available and (b) being used for the disposal of foot and mouth disease (i) carcases and (ii) ash from pyres.

Elliot Morley: Over the last few weeks most carcases resulting from new cases of foot and mouth disease have been disposed of by rendering. The two rendering plants that are currently available for use for the disposal of foot and mouth disease carcases are in Bradford (West Yorkshire) and Lancaster (Lancashire). The extent to which these plants are used depends on the demand for disposal on any given day.
	On the few occasions when disposal demand has exceeded available rendering capacity use has been made of licensed landfill and mass burial sites. The only licensed landfill and mass burial sites that have been used for the disposal of foot and mouth disease carcases in recent weeks are those at Hespin Wood in Cumbria and Tow Law in Co. Durham. Other licensed landfill sites and mass burial sites could be contracted or brought back into operation should additional disposal capacity be required.
	Wherever possible, ash from pyres is being buried on site. Where this is not possible it is being disposed of in licensed landfill. The landfill sites in England that are being used for this purpose are at Bishops Cleeve (Gloucestershire), Calvert (Buckinghamshire), Hespin Wood (Cumbria) and Workington (Cumbria). There are no plans to use any other landfill sites for ash disposal.

Organic Farmers

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to launch a Countryside Stewardship Scheme for organic farmers.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 18 October 2001
	The Countryside Stewardship Scheme is already open to organic farmers. Because it is a discretionary scheme, applications are assessed and approved on the basis of the environmental benefits they can offer. This assessment process takes account of the potential additional benefits of combining Countryside Stewardship with organic farming and as a result many organic farmers have been accepted into the Scheme. Officials are also conducting a review of agri-environment schemes which will consider a range of issues including the structure of existing schemes and the interrelationship between them. The review will report in 2003.

London Weighting

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will estimate the total annual value of London weightings and London living allowances for her Department; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: Although different rates of basic salary apply in London the Department does not pay separate London weighting or local pay additions for staff working in London. Those were abolished on 1 October 1994.

Departmental Running Costs

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will estimate the total annual running costs for buildings used, owned or rented by her Department for each nation and region of the UK, and estimate the average cost per square metre for properties used by her Department as a whole, and by region and nation of the UK.

Elliot Morley: The figures are as follows:
	
		 per annum 
		
			 Nation/region Total running cost Average running cost 
		
		
			 Wales 295,000 69 
			 London 9,847,000 189 
			 South West England 5,513,000 129 
			 South East England 17,312,000 284 
			 Anglia 5,971,000 121 
			 North East England 15,869,000 253 
			 North West England 2,625,000 129 
			  57,432,000  
			 Overall average  196

Farmland Birds

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what plans she has for reversing the decline in the farmland bird population by 2020;
	(2)  what progress she has made in fulfilling the Government's commitment to reversing the decline in the farmland bird population.

Alun Michael: The farmland bird index, based on populations of 20 species, increased last year, though this may have been partly due to the relatively mild preceding winter. Expert advice is that it will take several years before we could expect to see the effects of current policy measures. Nevertheless, analysis of the underlying trend by the British Trust for Ornithology has shown that the rate of population decline is now slowing.
	A number of existing policy measures will help this Department to achieve its Public Service Agreement (PSA) target to reverse the long-term decline in the number of farmland birds by 2020not least the significant expansion of our agri-environment schemes under the England Rural Development Programme. In particular, we are very hopeful that next year's national rollout of arable Countryside Stewardship options, based on the successful pilot scheme, will prove beneficial for birds.
	The reasons for the decline in farmland bird numbers are complex. That is why we have commissioned research from the British Trust for Ornithology, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and Oxford University to help us identify more precisely what needs to be done to deliver the PSA target.

Departmental Staff

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  how many and what proportion of each civil service grade in her Department is located in each region and nation of the UK, what the average salary is for each grade; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  how many and what proportion of each civil service grade in her Department is located in each region and nation of the UK, what the average salary is for each grade; and if she will make a statement;
	(3)  if she will estimate the number of staff employed by her Department by region and nation of the UK; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: I refer the hon. Member to the answers given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office on 15 October 2001, Official Report, columns 100809W.

Ministerial Travel

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  on how many occasions in each year since 1992 non-commercial flights were used by Ministers in her Department for official overseas visits; what the (a) destination, (b) Ministers involved, (c) cost and (d) reason for use of non- commercial flights were on each occasion; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  if she will list all official overseas visits undertaken by Ministers in her Department in each year since May 1997, indicating (a) the cost in (i) cash and (ii) real terms, (b) the number and grade of (i) civil servants and (ii) special advisers accompanying Ministers and (c) the number of official engagements or meetings undertaken on each visit; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 15 October 2001, Official Report, column 823W.

WALES

Devolved Administrations

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what his policy is with regard to (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department giving evidence to (i) Scottish Parliament, (ii) Welsh Assembly and (iii) Northern Ireland Assembly committees; and to what categories of document he gives (A) full access, (B) restricted access and (C) no access to (1) Scottish Parliament, (2) Welsh Assembly, (3) Northern Ireland Assembly and (4) House of Commons Select Committees.

Paul Murphy: I refer the hon. Member to the answer that my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Cabinet Office gave on 15 October 2001, Official Report, column 1004W.

Departmental Staff

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people his Department employed, expressed as full time equivalents, and what was the total cost of employing them in (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999, (d) 2000 and (e) 2001 to date.

Paul Murphy: Staff numbers are as follows:
	
		
			  Welsh Office(1) Wales Office(2) 
		
		
			 1997 2,298  
			 1998 2,320  
			 1999 2,452 29 
			 2000  33 
			 2001  39 
		
	
	(1) To 30 June 1999.
	(2) From 1 July 1999.
	Notes:
	1. On 1 July 1999, most of the Secretary of State's executive functions transferred to the National Assembly for Wales.
	2. Figures include casual employees.
	1997, 1998 and 2000 figures are full-time equivalents averaged over the year.
	3. 1999 figures are January to June average for Welsh Office and July to December average for Wales Office.
	4. 2001 figure is full-time equivalents averaged from January to the present.
	Running costs are published in annual departmental reports.

HEALTH

Continuing Care

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many residents in nursing homes are fully funded by the NHS under continuing care criteria.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 15 October 2001
	The total number of people in the year 200001 newly meeting the eligibility criteria for continuing national health service health care was 25,303.

Dystonia

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the adequacy of existing research programmes into conditions of dystonia;
	(2)  what research his Department is sponsoring into (a) a cure for and (b) treatment of conditions of dystonia.

John Hutton: The cause of dystonia is unknown and there is not, currently, an effective cure. That is why the research being carried out by the Medical Research Council (MRC) is so important. The MRC is the main Government agency for research into the causes of and treatment of disease and is funded by the Department of Trade and Industry. The MRC has provided substantial funding for research into the causes of dystonia and other movement disorders. The Medical Research Council spent 2.25 million in 200001 on dystonia research.
	Current projects being supported are:
	Dr. R. AppsRole of climbing fibre pathways in movement control
	Professor R. N. LemonNeural control of movement
	Professor RothwellNeuronal pathways underlying central nervous system responses to injury and disease
	Professor P. G. MorrisFundamental improvements to functional magnetic resonance imaging and their application to hearing, movement disorder and stroke
	Professor RothwellPhysiology and pathophysiology of voluntary limb and trunk movement
	Dr. A. M. Bronstein Visual and autonomic influences on balance mechanisms.
	The Department keeps priorities for research under review and these are determined through discussion with the departmental research committee and others. In the national health service, priorities are identified through widespread consultation with those using, delivering and managing services.

Waiting Times

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list waiting times in each hospital trust in England for (a) cataracts, (b) hip replacements and (c) heart bypasses, in (i) 1997 and (ii) at the latest date for which figures are available.

John Hutton: holding answer 15 October 2001
	Data on median waiting times for cataract, hip replacement and heart bypass procedures for 199798, 199899 and 19992000 have been placed in the Library.

Clinical Services

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will consider proposals for strategic health authorities that cross boundaries of Government office regions to coincide with patterns of delivery of clinical services.

John Hutton: The criteria for proposed strategic health authorities are that they should have a population of around 1.5 million, their boundaries should be coterminous with an aggregate of local authority boundaries and their boundaries should not cut across Government office for the regions boundaries. It has also been determined that boundaries should reflect clinical networks as closely as possible. The criteria for strategic health authority boundaries are in line with the principles set out in the Modernising Government White Paper. We have no plans to review the criteria for strategic health authority boundaries.

Correspondence

Patrick McLoughlin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for West Derbyshire dated 18 August concerning drug prices in Great Britain and other European countries.

Hazel Blears: A reply to the hon. Member's letter of the 15 August was sent on 18 October.

Pharmacists Remuneration

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to agree pharmacists' remuneration terms for 200102.

John Hutton: We have made an offer to the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC), which represents all community pharmacies providing National Health Service pharmaceutical services in England and Wales. We hope to conclude discussions with PSNC shortly.

Hospices

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the hon. Member for Mid-Dorset and North Poole will receive a reply to her question of 4 July concerning funding for hospices ref 2853.

Hazel Blears: I wrote to the hon. Member on 8 October 2001.

HPV Scheme

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many people he expects to participate in the limited implementation HPV pilot scheme in (a) Newcastle, (b) north Bristol and (c) Norfolk and Norwich;
	(2)  how many people have taken part in the limited implementation HPV pilot scheme in (a) Newcastle, (b) north Bristol and (c) Norfolk and Norwich; and if the targets for the scheme have been met;
	(3)  what is the timescale for the implementation of the HPV screening programme following the completion of the trials;
	(4)  what plans he has to introduce screening for human papilloma virus into the national screening programme for cervical cancer; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 19 October 2001
	The pilot study of liquid based cytology and human papilloma virus testing as triage for women with mild or borderline abnormalities began in April 2001, as planned. Women with a mild or borderline screening result in the pilot will have an HPV test in accordance with the pilot protocol. In 200001, the number of cervical screening tests and the percentage of tests with a mild or borderline result for the three pilot site areas are shown in the table.
	
		
			  Pilot sites  
			 200001 Newcastle North Bristol Norfolk and Norwich 
		
		
			 Number of women screened 54,000 54,000 30,000 
			 Percentage of women with a borderline/mild abnormality 8 7 13 
		
	
	Source:
	Statistical BulletinCervical Screening Programme, England: 200001
	The HPV arm of the pilot will end in September 2002. Analysis of the data will begin in October 2002, and the report of the evaluation of the pilot will be submitted in early 2003. The pilot study is expected to cost some 1.3 million.
	The NHS Cancer Plan set out the commitment that if evaluation of the pilots is successful, the Government will fund their introduction across the national health service.

Cervical Cancer

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what 
	(1)  proportion of deaths from cervical cancer occurred in women (a) over the age of 60 and (b) under the age of 30 years in each year since 1994;
	(2)  what percentage of UK women participate in the National PAP Screening Programme, broken down by (a) age 30 or below, (b) age 31 to 50, (c) age 51 to 60, (d) age 61 years or above and (e) ethnic group;
	(3)  what proportion of smear tests in England and Wales resulted in women being recalled as a result of inadequate smears in the last five years; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  how many cases of cervical cancer have been diagnosed in women who have had a clear PAP test smear record in every year since 1994.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 18 October 2001
	The number of deaths from cervical cancer since 1994 are shown in the table:
	
		
			  Under 30 (percentage) 30 to 59 (percentage) 60 and over (percentage) All ages 
		
		
			 1994 25 (1.9) 505 (36.9) 838 (61.2) 1,369 
			 1995 33 (2.5) 538 (40.2) 768 (57.4) 1,339 
			 1996 28 (2.1) 508 (38.6) 779 (59.2) 1,315 
			 1997 25 (2.0) 494 (40.3) 706 (57.6) 1,225 
			 1998 24 (2.1) 470 (40.6) 664 (57.3) 1,158 
			 1999 24 (2.2) 421 (38.0) 662 (59.8) 1,107 
			 2000 14 (1.3) 437 (39.7) 651 (59.1) 1,102 
		
	
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics
	The percentage of United Kingdom women participating in the cervical screening programme is shown in the table:
	
		
			 Age range Percentage coverage(3) 
		
		
			 Under 30 66.8 
			 30 to 49 84.9 
			 50 to 59 83.9 
			 60 to 64 77.6 
			 25 to 64 83.0 
		
	
	(3) Proportion of women resident who have had a test with a result in the last five years
	Source:
	Statistical BulletinCervical Screening Programme, England: 199697 to 200001
	Women aged over 64 are invited if their previous two tests were not clear or if they have never been screened. Data by ethnic group are not held centrally.
	
		
			  Year Total number of cervical screening tests Percentage inadequate 
		
		
			 199697 4,408,908 8.3 
			 199798 4,428,938 9.1 
			 199899 4,351,670 9.3 
			 19992000 4,259,454 9.8 
			 200001 4,089,440 9.7 
		
	
	Source:
	Statistical BulletinCervical Screening Programme, England: 199697 to 200001
	Information is not held centrally on the number of women diagnosed with cervical cancer who had a clear test record. When a woman is diagnosed with cervical cancer, her screening history and smear slides are reviewed. No screening test is 100 per cent. accurate. Early detection and treatment can prevent 80 to 90 per cent. of cervical cancers developing.

Pancreatic Cancer

Tim Collins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients were waiting for pancreatic cancer surgery at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital on 6 March.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 18 October 2001
	Patients who need pancreatic cancer surgery at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital are brought in very urgently and do not appear on the trust's waiting list. There were no patients waiting for pancreatic cancer surgery at the end of March 2001, the closest date for which figures are available.

BMA

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had recently with the BMA on the relationship between the NHS and the private sector.

John Hutton: holding answer 18 October 2001
	Ministers have not had any discussions recently with the British Medical Association on the relationship between the national health service and the private sector.

Care Charges

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to change care charges.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 18 October 2001
	We published for consultation draft guidance to local councils on fairer charging policies for non-residential social services on 3 January, and plan to issue final guidance later this year.

Care Direct

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on Care Direct.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 18 October 2001
	As announced in the NHS Plan, the Department will pilot Care Direct in six councils in the south-west of England, starting in 2001.
	Plymouth and Somerset commenced on 1 October 2001; Gloucestershire and Bournemouth will follow on 22 and 29 October, respectively. Bristol will commence on 1 November and Devon on 1 December.
	As announced in February this year, the second phase of pilots, which will start next year, will include the remainder of the councils in the south-west and a small number of additional councils. The Department will announce shortly who these will be.

Vegetables

Tony Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent evidence he has assessed on changes in the nutritional content of vegetables.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 18 October 2001
	The Food Standards Agency collects data on the nutrient content of a wide range of foods, including fruit and vegetables, on a regular basis. A report published last year suggests there has been some decline in the nutrient content of fruit and vegetables. Due to a variety of factors, the range of nutrient levels in foods can be very wide and is approximately the same for conventional and organic produce.
	The composition of individual foods is less important than the nutrient content and overall balance of the diet. Data show that nutrient intakes for the population as a whole are generally adequate.

Residential Care

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will hold an investigation into the costs of residential care.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 19 October 2001
	Our response to the Royal Commission on long-term care, as announced in the NHS Plan, has been to introduce a range of measures to ensure the system of funding and charging for residential care is fairer.
	We routinely monitor the costs of residential and nursing home care through performance indicators included in the performance assessment framework for personal social services. In addition, we have commissioned research into costs, fees and profitability in the care home sector. Residential care is subject to the best value regime that requires councils to balance costs, outcomes and quality.

Dental Students

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to provide funding support for those students who undertake dental technician courses.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 19 October 2001
	Trainee dental technicians employed by the National Health Service are already eligible to apply for funding support through their employers. However, most trainee dental technicians are employed in privately owned dental laboratories. The Department has funded a project to draw up and define appropriate qualifications for occupational standards for dental technicians. When they are agreed, funding support for these qualifications may be available from a number of sources, including employers.

Health Visitors

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to recognise the work of health visitors in the proposed nursing and midwifery councils; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: holding answer 19 October 2001
	I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 3 July 2001, Official Report, column 150W.

Medicines Control Agency

Andrew Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the annual report and accounts of the Medicines Control Agency.

Hazel Blears: We have received the report and copies have today been laid before both Houses of Parliament in accordance with the requirements of sections 5(2) and 5(3) of the Exchequer and Audit Departments Act 1921. Copies have also been placed in the Library.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Instrumental Music Tuition

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much money has been allocated to each local education authority in order to support instrumental music tuition in the 200102 financial year.

Stephen Timms: Funding for LEAs to maintain and extend their music services is allocated via the music standards fund. This includes the provision of instrumental tuition.
	The music standards fund allocation for each LEA in the current financial year is contained in tables, copies of which have been placed in the Library. The figures include both the DFES contribution and any LEA matched funding provided.

Veterinary Medicine

Huw Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to increase the number of veterinary schools.

Margaret Hodge: The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE)not the Governmenthas responsibility for determining the number and location of higher education places, including those for veterinary medicine. The funding council takes demand for veterinary surgeons into account in setting the number of places.
	In recent years, there has been a steady rise in the number of students entering veterinary schools, from 430 in 1991 to 660 in 2000, as well as a similar rise in the numbers graduating, from 360 to 560 over the same period.

Further Education

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of further education colleges would be able to pay the full 3.7 per cent. recommended pay rise for the coming year without making cuts in other budget headings.

Margaret Hodge: This information is not available to the Department. It is for college corporations to determine spending priorities within the overall need to balance their budgets. Colleges' ability to pay the recommended pay rise will depend on their overall financial health, their success in recruiting and retaining students (which will affect the funding they receive from the Learning and Skills Council) and the level of their staff costs in relation to overall college expenditure.

Further Education

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what factors relating to the responsibilities and duties of teachers in sixth-form colleges underlie the pay differential with further education colleges.

Margaret Hodge: The pay, terms and conditions of staff in general further education and sixth-form colleges are matters for college corporations and management to determine in consultation with the relevant unions. I understand that over the years since incorporation, sixth-form colleges have sought to mirror pay and conditions arrangements in schools, because staff responsibilities are similar in both. In general FE colleges, a wider range of pay and conditions arrangements now exist, reflecting the diverse learning needs of colleges local communities and colleges individual decisions on implementing the nationally recommended pay settlement each year.
	In addition, sixth-form colleges have, this year, been given proportionately a larger share of teaching pay initiative (TPI) funding than general FE colleges. This honours a commitment given by the former Secretary of State, identifying the scale of implementation of TPI in sixth-form colleges in 2001. Under TPI, sixth-form colleges should, this year, be able to replicate the 2,000 threshold payments that apply in schools; and in general FE, colleges should be able to pay at least 1,000 and up to 2,000 to eligible staff, with up to 4,000 to a minority of their most able staff.

Further Education

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the ratio of administrative staff to teaching staff in further education colleges for each year since incorporation in 1993.

Margaret Hodge: The Learning and Skills Council (and formerly the Further Education Funding Council) collects information about teaching and non-teaching staff employed for 15 hours a week or more over a teaching year. Non-teaching staff data are categorised into supporting teaching and learning (Support) and other support (Other). 199495 was the first year data were collected; the last year for which data are currently available is 19992000. Details about the number of administrative staff in further education colleges, or about staff employed for less than 15 hours a week, are not collected centrally.
	The ratio between teaching and non-teaching staff is shown in the following table:
	
		
			 Year Teaching (thousand) Support (thousand) Other (thousand) Non teaching ie support plus other (thousand) Ratio (Non-teaching/ teaching) 
		
		
			 199495 130.9 19.0 54.9 73.9 0.56 
			 199596 134.7 21.4 60.6 82.0 0.61 
			 199697 130.9 23.6 63.6 87.2 0.67 
			 199798 139.7 24.9 64.7 89.6 0.64 
			 199899 141.8 23.8 65.3 89.1 0.63 
			 19992000 136.7 24.5 68.6 93.1 0.68

Renewable Energy Education

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to promote increased access to training and development in renewable energy-related disciplines in higher education.

Margaret Hodge: Higher education institutions are autonomous organisations which design and determine their own courses, in response to market forces. A substantial number of higher education institutions are offering a range of courses in renewable energy-related disciplines in the current academic year. The Government are keen to promote an interest in science and technology generally. Science Year (September 2001 to August 2002) will raise the profile of science and increase pupil engagement with science, particularly in the 1019 age range. It aims to boost the take-up of science subjects post-16.

Post-16 Education

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the role is of the Learning and Skills Council in the provision of post-16 education.

Margaret Hodge: The role of the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) is to plan, fund, monitor and improve the quality of post-16 learning up to higher education. We expect the LSC to encourage more young people to stay in learning; increase demand for learning among adults; and improve the skills of the work force. We also expect it to drive up standards in teaching, learning and training and to build equality of opportunity into everything it does.

Sixth-forms (Funding)

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what plans she has to review the funding formula for sixth-forms to reflect local needs;
	(2)  if she will make a statement on the rejection of the area cost adjustment formula for funding school sixth-forms;
	(3)  what steps her Department is taking to ensure no school will lose funding when the Learning and Skills Council assumes control of sixth-form resources.

Ivan Lewis: These are matters for the Learning and Skills Council. I have therefore asked John Harwood, the Council's chief executive, to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and to place a copy of his reply in the Library.

Sixth-forms (Funding)

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many separate funding streams are available to secondary schools with sixth-forms; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: All maintained schools, including schools with sixth-forms, receive almost all their public funding from their local education authority. The bulk of such fundingincluding support from the school standards grantis delegated to a school through the authority's fair funding scheme. Schools also receive funding, via their local education authority, under the standards fund, and the teachers threshold pay grant. Individual schools may also receive support from a wide range of other sources, including the national lottery, and private sector contributions.
	From 200203, funding for school sixth-forms will be allocated to local education authorities by the Learning and Skills Council. Schools with sixth-forms will continue to receive this funding through their local education authority's fair funding scheme.

After-school Clubs

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what action she is taking to allow schools to run after-school clubs on their premises; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: Through the White Paper Schools achieving success, launched in September, we gave our intention to legislate to enable school governors to run a wide range of family and community facilities and services, including child care.
	Under existing legislation, school governors are able to run study support (out of school hours learning) activities and this will not be affected by the proposed changes.

Special Educational Needs

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  if she will include information on acquired brain injury in new guidance on the education of sick children;
	(2)  if she will include within guidance for health professionals accompanying the Special Educational Needs code of practice, material on the particular SEN needs likely to arise in respect of acquired brain injury.

Stephen Timms: We will be including information on acquired brain injury (ABI) in the joint Department for Education and Skills/Department of Health guidance on Access to Education for Children and Young People with Medical Needs, which will be published on 1 November 2001.
	The importance of close liaison between education and health services to all issues that may affect learning for children and young people with ABI will also be highlighted in the SEN toolkit to be published alongside the SEN code of practice.

Special Educational Needs

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of children attending (a) primary and (b) secondary schools have SEN statements, broken down by (i) Church of England, (ii) Catholic, (iii) Jewish, (iv) Muslim and (v) Sikh schools.

Stephen Timms: The latest year for which we have complete special educational needs data is January 2000.
	Special educational needs data for January 2001 are known to be incomplete.
	
		Percentage of pupils with statements of special educational needs, -- January 2000
		
			  Maintained  
			  Primary schools Secondary schools 
		
		
			 Church of England 1.5 2.2 
			 Roman Catholic 1.1 1.9 
			 Jewish 1.1 1.5 
			 Muslim 0.6 (4) 
			 Sikh 0.6 0.0 
			 Other(5) 1.7 2.6 
		
	
	(4) No schools of this type
	(5) Includes mixed denominational schools, other christian faith schools and schools with no religious character

Illiteracy

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the Government's policies for combating illiteracy in (a) Wales and (b) England.

John Healey: The Government are fully committed to helping the estimated one in five adults who do not have adequate literacy skills. The Prime Minister launched Skills for Life, the national strategy for improving adult literacy and numeracy in England on 1 March. New national standards, a core curriculum for literacy and numeracy, teacher training and national tests in literacy and numeracy are all now available nationally after a successful pilot. A national promotional campaign is currently boosting demand. We are working across Government and with key partner organisations to ensure that all those who can help adults with literacy and numeracy skills needs are able to do so. Our target is that 750,000 adults improve their literacy and numeracy by 2004. More than 70,000 adults have already gained literacy and numeracy qualifications since April 2001.
	Policy for adult literacy in Wales is a matter for the Welsh Assembly.

Free School Meals

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of children attending (a) primary and (b) secondary faith schools are eligible for free school meals, broken down by (i) Church of England, (ii) Catholic, (iii) Jewish, (iv) Muslim and (v) Sikh schools.

Stephen Timms: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		Percentage of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals, January 2001
		
			  Maintained primary schools Maintained secondary schools 
		
		
			 Church of England 11.5 11.4 
			 Roman Catholic 16.1 15.6 
			 Jewish 4.0 6.2 
			 Muslim 30.6 (6) 
			 Sikh 5.6 6.5 
			 Other(7) 19.5 16.1 
		
	
	(6) No schools of this type
	(7) Includes mixed denominational schools, other christian faith schools and schools with no religious character

Free School Meals

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of children attending (a) language, (b) sports, (c) technology and (d) arts specialist schools are eligible for free school meals.

Stephen Timms: The available information is shown in the table.
	
		Percentage of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals, January 2001
		
			  Schools designated as specialist as at September 2001 
		
		
			 Language specialist schools 10.5 
			 Sports specialist schools 17.8 
			 Technology specialist schools 14.4 
			 Arts specialist schools 18.5

Fast-track Scheme

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many people have accepted places on the fast-track scheme; and how many of them started their course;
	(2)  how many fast-track trainees started courses in September; and what subjects they are being trained to teach.

Stephen Timms: One hundred and twenty people accepted places on the fast-track teaching programme in this its first year. Nine have deferred taking up their places until autumn 2002. One hundred and eleven started a year of enhanced initial teacher training at nine of England's best ITT providers in September. They are training in the following areas:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Primary 27 
			   
			 Secondary  
			 English 23 
			 Geography 10 
			 History 11 
			 Information and Communications Technology 1 
			 Modern Foreign Languages 10 
			 Mathematics 6 
			 Music 3 
			 Science 19 
			   
			 Withdrawn since starting training 1 
			  
			 Total 111

Teachers Returner Bonus

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teachers had registered for the returner bonus by 1 September.

Stephen Timms: By 1 September, 1,944 people had registered their details with the welcome back bonus registration line. By 17 October, this figure was in excess of 2,500.
	The number of people registering their details so far does not necessarily represent the number who will receive the bonus. That will become clear when eligible teachers have returned application forms. We expect more people to register over the next few weeks as application forms become available, and to continue to do so until the scheme comes to an end in February 2002.

Church of England Schools

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what provision has been made to ensure that some new Church of England schools are established in areas of economic and social hardship.

Stephen Timms: We welcomed Lord Dearing's June report to the Archbishop's Council, which recommended an increase in the number of Church of England secondary school places to build on the Church's record of meeting parental demand and local community need. However, decisions to set up new faith schools, or close other schools and reopen them as faith schools, are taken at local levelby the school organisation committee for the area, or the schools adjudicator where the committee cannot agreeand depend on proposals coming forward.
	In the White Paper Schools: achieving success, published on 5 September, we proposed to legislate for different procedures, where a need for a wholly new school is identified by a LEA. The LEA will have to invite any interested partieswhich may include the Church of England or other faith groupto bring forward proposals to establish the new school. After the local school organisation committee has commented on alternative proposals, the Secretary of State will decide between them, taking account of the proposals educational merits, value for money and the outcome of local consultation.

Nursery Places

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what further spending will be made available for nursery places in Lancashire.

Stephen Timms: The Department for Education and Skills will notify Lancashire local education authority of its allocation of nursery education places for 200203 shortly.

Nursery Places

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many free nursery places were not taken up in Lancashire in the last 12 months.

Stephen Timms: Central Government made available sufficient funding for Lancashire local education authority to provide 5,008 free early education places for three-year-olds in 200102. In both the summer and autumn terms all of those places were taken up. Those places are in addition to those made available by the local education authority. We are unable to comment on the take-up of free places made available by Lancashire local education authority from its own resources.

Anaphylaxis (Children)

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what provision (a) has been made and (b) will be made to enable children with anaphylaxis to participate in out-of-school activities; what work (i) has and (ii) will be undertaken with the Department of Health to ensure that such children are given the right to partake in such activities; and if the matter will be referred to the Cabinet Committee on children and young people.

Stephen Timms: My Department has produced good practice guidance, Health and Safety of Pupils on Educational Visits (1998); Safe KeepingA good practice guide for health and safety in study support settings (2000); and a joint good practice guide with the Department of Health Supporting Pupils with Medical Needs (1996), all of which include advice to schools on including pupils with medical needs in out-of-school activities. The joint DFES and Department of Health website www.wiredforhealth.gov.uk also carries advice on problems relating to anaphylaxis. The Special Education Needs and Disability Act 2001 will bring access to education within the remit of the Disability Discrimination Act and will outlaw discrimination against disabled pupils or prospective pupils from September 2002. Out-of-school activities will be covered by the Act. One of the Government's children services objectives is to increase the number of disabled children who use inclusive play and leisure services, with appropriate support if necessary. It is standard practice not to comment on the proceedings of Cabinet Committees.

Education Funding (East Sussex)

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what representations she has received from (a) secondary and (b) primary schools in east Sussex regarding the level of funding for education in the county.

Stephen Timms: My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations from schools in east Sussex over the past year concerning the level of the area cost adjustment applied to the county.

AS-levels

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the Government's plans for modifying AS-Levels.

Ivan Lewis: On 12 September, the Secretary of State announced changes which will reduce the burden of assessment on candidates taking their AS examinations next year.
	The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority will submit a further report on vocational A-levels and key skills in December.

Post-16 Students

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the level of funding will be for post 16 students in schools where there is an overall increase in numbers on roll after April 2002.

Margaret Hodge: Ministers have set a national figure of 2,600 per pupil for adjustments in pupil numbers in 200203 that are above or below the real terms guarantee baseline set for each school sixth form.

Student Support

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will publish the timetable for consultation on her plans to review the system of student support.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 19 October 2001
	No decisions have been taken yet on the timing of consultation.

Student Support

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to produce a consultation paper as part of the Government's review of the current system of student support.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 19 October 2001
	We have said that we plan to consult on any proposals for change that may emerge from the review. No decisions have been taken yet on the detail of the consultation process.

University Staff

David Rendel: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to her answer of 11 July 2001, Official Report, column 554W, on university staff, if the information from the Higher Education Funding Council is now publicly available.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 19 October 2001
	Provisional figures from the Higher Education Funding Council are now available. The following table provides figures by institution for the number of staff defined by institutions as research active that left positions between 1 January and 30 March 2001, as reported in institutions research assessment exercise returns. Under research assessment exercise rules, part of the work of some of these staff would have been included in the submission of the institution they had recently left.
	
		Research active academic staff that left positions
		
			 Institution Number 
		
		
			 College of Ripon and York St. John 2 
			 University College Northampton 7 
			 Kent Institute of Art and Design 1 
			 Institute of Historical Research 1 
			 University of Sunderland 8 
			 London Guildhall University 3 
			 Chester College of Higher Education 1 
			 University of Lincoln 3 
			 Cheltenham and Gloucester College of HE 5 
			 Anglia Polytechnic University 3 
			 University of Teesside 3 
			 Royal Academy of Music 1 
			 University of Wolverhampton 3 
			 University of Glamorgan 3 
			 University of Wales Institute, Cardiff 2 
			 Staffordshire University 3 
			 Nottingham Trent University 6 
			 University of Huddersfield 3 
			 Brunel University 5 
			 Royal Holloway, University of London 8 
			 Middlesex University 4 
			 Southampton Institute 1 
			 Bolton Institute of Higher Education 1 
			 University of Luton 2 
			 Wimbledon School of Art 1 
			 Bournemouth University 1 
			 University of North London 2 
			 University of Central England 3 
			 Liverpool John Moores University 3 
			 Aston University 2 
			 University of Central Lancashire 2 
			 University of Portsmouth 4 
			 South Bank University 2 
			 University College Chichester 1 
			 Napier University 1 
			 University of East London 2 
			 Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College 1 
			 Manchester Metropolitan University 3 
			 Sheffield Hallam University 3 
			 University of Southampton 9 
			 University of Wales College of Medicine 2 
			 University of Aberdeen 5 
			 Oxford Brookes University 3 
			 Birkbeck College 2 
			 University of Wales, Swansea 3 
			 University of Derby 2 
			 University of Leicester 10 
			 University of West of England, Bristol 2 
			 University of Birmingham 9 
			 University of Kent at Canterbury 2 
			 University of Oxford 28 
			 University of Stirling 4 
			 University of Hull 6 
			 Keele University 5 
			 University of Warwick 4 
			 Coventry University 1 
			 University College London 19 
			 Glasgow Caledonian University 1 
			 University of York 7 
			 St. George's Hospital Medical School 2 
			 De Montfort University 4 
			 London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine 3 
			 University of East Anglia 3 
			 Loughborough University 2 
			 University of Edinburgh 9 
			 University of Exeter 3 
			 University of Dundee 2 
			 Imperial College 8 
			 Cranfield University 1 
			 The London Institute 1 
			 University of Northumbria at Newcastle 2 
			 University of Sussex 4 
			 University of Salford 1 
			 Open University 3 
			 University of Hertfordshire 2 
			 University of Bradford 1 
			 University of Manchester 9 
			 University of Cambridge 14 
			 University of Sheffield 4 
			 University of Essex 3 
			 University of Nottingham 4 
			 University of Bristol 7 
			 University of St. Andrews 3 
			 University of Glasgow 3 
			 King's College London 7 
			 University of Bath 2 
			 UMIST 4 
			 Lancaster University 1 
			 London School of Economics and Political Science 2 
			 University of Ulster 2 
			 University of Durham 3 
			 University of Strathclyde 3 
			 University of Reading 2 
			 Queen Mary, University of London 21 
			 Cardiff University 2 
			 The Queen's University of Belfast 3 
			 University of Newcastle 1 
			 University of Leeds 2 
			 Institute of Zoology 1 
			 University of Wales, Lampeter 4 
			 Royal College of Music 2 
			 Falmouth College of Arts 1 
			 Liverpool Hope 1 
			 Royal Veterinary College 1 
			 Bath Spa University College 1 
			 University of Wales, Bangor 2 
			 University of Surrey 2 
			 School of Oriental and African Studies 1 
			 University of Plymouth 1 
			 University of Wales, Aberystwyth 1 
			 Heriot-Watt University 1

Teachers

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if work has begun on the research project into the reasons why teachers are leaving the profession.

Stephen Timms: The Department is in the process of commissioning this research project. Work is planned to commence in early December 2001.

Teachers

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what work has been done to investigate if teacher shortages are being tackled by teachers taking classes in subjects for which they are not qualified.

Stephen Timms: Many teachers are qualified in more than one subject. What subjects they should be asked to teach is a matter for the professional judgment of the headteachers concerned. The latest figures available show that in 199697, 82 per cent. of secondary school teachers held an appropriate subject qualification.

Teachers

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teachers who received their golden hello completed their contract.

Stephen Timms: This information is not collected centrally. In order to apply for a golden hello, an eligible teacher must have completed induction successfully and be employed in a relevant post in a maintained school or a maintained or non-maintained special school in England on a permanent contract or a fixed-term contract of one term or more.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Social Exclusion Unit

Angus Robertson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  how many staff are employed in the Social Exclusion Unit in (a) Scotland and (b) the UK;
	(2)  what was the Social Exclusion Unit's expenditure on administration and staff costs in (a) Scotland and (b) the UK in each of the last five years;
	(3)  what representatives the Scottish Executive have in the running of the Social Exclusion Unit; and what their remits are.

Barbara Roche: The Social Exclusion Unit is part of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and reports to the Prime Minister through the Deputy Prime Minister. Its remit is to help improve Government action to reduce social exclusion by producing joined-up solutions to joined-up problems. It works mainly on specific projects, chosen following consultation with other Ministers and suggestions from interested groups. The unit's remit covers only matters which are the responsibility of the Government, but it keeps in close touch with the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland devolved Administrations, which have their own strategies for tackling social exclusion.
	On 1 October 2001 there were 52 members of staff in the SEU. The administration and pay costs for the unit for the past five years are as follows:
	
		SEU
		
			  
			  Admin costs Pay costs Total 
		
		
			 1 December 199731 March 1998 42,841 45,914 88,756 
			 1 April 199831 March 1999 262,600 418,518 681,119 
			 1 April 199931 March 2000 760,046 810,618 1,570,665 
			 1 April 200031 March 2001 1,100,289 1,145,957 2,246,247 
			 1 April 200131 March 2002(8) 712,000 1,659,000 2,371,000 
		
	
	(8) Budget allocation
	There are no staff employed in the Social Exclusion Unit in Scotland and there were no administration and staff costs over the past five years.

e-Democracy

Graham Allen: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he plans to publish a Green Paper on e-democracy.

Christopher Leslie: The Office of the e-Envoy, in conjunction with DTLR, is developing early proposals to enhance opportunities for all forms of participation in the democratic process through the use of information and communication technologies.
	Before any proposals are taken forward, we anticipate undertaking a wide-ranging consultation, which will include elected representatives, civil society, business and individuals, as well as government at all levelsincluding the devolved Administrations and local government. However, no decision has yet been taken on the publication date of any consultation paper.

Civil Contingencies Secretariat

Mark Oaten: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister to which minister the Civil Contingencies Secretariat reports; and if he will list the staff working in it.

Christopher Leslie: The Civil Contingencies Secretariat is accountable to the Prime Minister through the Secretary of the Cabinet and to the Ministers who chair the Committees and Sub-Committees that the secretariat services. The Home Secretary chairs the Civil Contingencies Committee.
	Nearly 100 staff currently work in the secretariat, which is headed by Mike Granatt. This number includes teaching and support staff at the Emergency Planning College.

Government Office for London

Harry Cohen: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the activities and performance of the Government Office for London over the past six months.

Barbara Roche: The mission of the Government Office for London (GOL) is to make London a better place by working with partner organisations to promote the Government's policies and achievement of their planned outcomes. GOL delivers policies and programmes for six Departments with a programme budget of over 2 billion in 200102. Its main activities are neighbourhood renewal, planning, skills and education, enterprise, sustainable development, housing, crime and community safety and culture. It is also a main liaison point with the Greater London Authority.
	Some examples of what GOL has done in the past six months include the establishing of a Youth Crime team working in partnership of a Youth Crime team working in partnership with the police and boroughs to tackle youth crime and victimisation in 10 London boroughs; administration of nearly 600 million of European funds to 2006; and the launch of two Connexions Partnerships, to deliver services to young people in north and south London.
	GOL is currently undertaking its mid-year review so I am unable to furnish my hon. Friend with details of performance for the past six months. However, a report on GOL's performance for the previous financial year is available in its annual review 200001 which is in the Library or accessible from GOL's website http//: www.go-london.gov.uk.

LORD CHANCELLOR

Maintenance Arrears

Oliver Heald: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the average amount of money outstanding in maintenance arrears in respect of maintenance defaulters who have appeared before Huntingdon family proceedings court in 2001.

Michael Wills: Information at this level of detail is not held centrally by the Department, and it would involve disproportionate cost to obtain details from the local Magistrates' Courts Committee.

Maintenance Arrears

Oliver Heald: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the total amount of money owed in respect of arrears of maintenance under orders registered at Peterborough magistrates' court.

Michael Wills: I have been informed by the Justices' Clerk for the area that the total arrears of maintenance orders at Peterborough Magistrates' Court appears to be 6,185,950. However, it is possible that this figure is overstated, as maintenance may have been paid direct between parties, parties may have reconciled, re-married or one of the parties may have died.

Arrest Warrants

Oliver Heald: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many arrest warrants not backed for bail were issued by family proceedings courts in Cambridgeshire in 2001; how many such warrants were executed and how many remain unexecuted; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Wills: I have been informed by the Justices' Clerk for the area that nine warrants not backed for bail have been issued in Cambridgeshire in 2001; two of these warrants have been successfully executed and three warrants are still with the court's private enforcement contractors for execution. The remaining four have been returned to the court because the defaulters cannot be traced.

Freedom of Information Act

Norman Baker: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department 
	(1)  on what date he expects the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to come into force; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will set out the programme in place, giving date targets where appropriate, for achieving implementation of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Michael Wills: The Freedom of Information Act received Royal Assent on 30 November 2000 and, by section 87(3), has to be fully implemented by the 30 November 2005. However, the Government are committed to the implementation of the Act before this deadline. The Lord Chancellor also has a statutory duty to report to Parliament by 29 November this year on his proposals for bringing fully into force those provisions that are not yet fully in force.
	In his appearance before the Home Affairs Select Committee on 16 October, the Lord Chancellor outlined the two possible approaches to implementation. A 'Sector by Sector' approach would mean implementing the Act in stages, by type of public authority, with publications schemes provisions implemented first and the right of access following, say, six months later. The alternative is a 'Big Bang' approach, under which the publication scheme provisions are rolled out, by type of public authority, and the individual's right of access to all public authorities commences at the end of that complete process. The Government are considering which of these two to adopt.
	Some parts of the Act are already in force. The provisions of the Act set out in section 87(1) came into force on 30 November 2000, when the Act was passed. These provisions relate mainly to the work of the Information Commissioner, the coverage of the Act and Order making powers. The provisions set out in section 87(2) of the Act came into force on 30 January 2001. These relate primarily to the creation of the post of the Information Commissioner. Provisions relating to the amendment of the Data Protection Act, as provided for by the Freedom of Information Act, were also brought into force by Commencement Order in Statutory Instrument 2001 Number 1637, on 30 April 2001.
	The Government are determined that the time taken to implement the Act will be used well to ensure that the Act is a success. There is a parallel to be drawn here between the Freedom of Information Act and the Human Rights Act. Time was taken to ensure that the Human Rights Act was implemented properly. This meant that, despite criticism at the time, the implementation of the Act has been considered a success.

Freedom of Information Act

Norman Baker: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many officials and what reasons are deployed to secure implementation of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (a) in his Department and (b) elsewhere in Government.

Michael Wills: Within the Lord Chancellor's Department there is a Division devoted to central policy on Freedom of Information and Data Protection. It has a delegated budget of approximately 310,000 for work on Freedom of Information. In addition, the Division has allocated a grant in aid, for this financial year, to the Information Commissioner of 2 million, for her responsibilities under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act).
	Each Public Authority is responsible for the implementation of the Act within its own jurisdiction and therefore, there are a number of staff involved in the implementation of the Act in the Lord Chancellor's Department itself, as well as in its Agencies and Associated Offices, as there are in other Departments.
	Key staff in each Department include the Management Board level 'Champion' for Freedom of Information and the Implementation Team Leader. Records and knowledge management staff, including website staff, are also involved, as are many others throughout the Department. The work is clearly an aspect of many people's jobs; for example, the Home Office has in the region of 50 staff involved in the implementation as some part of their job.

City Status

Bob Russell: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when the announcement will be made of which towns have been awarded city status to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the accession of Her Majesty the Queen; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: Competitions for grants of city status to one suitably qualified town in each of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to mark the Queen's Golden Jubilee were launched on 25 July, with a closing date of 12 October. Forty-two applications have been received and are now under consideration. My noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor hopes to announce the results in the early months of next year.

City Status

Bob Russell: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will list the names of the communities which have applied for the conferment of city status to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the accession of Her Majesty the Queen.

Rosie Winterton: Applications for grants of city status to mark Her Majesty's Golden Jubilee have been received, and are now under consideration, from the local authorities for the following areas:
	England
	Blackburn with Darwen
	Blackpool
	Bolton
	Chelmsford
	Colchester
	Croydon
	Doncaster
	Dover
	Greenwich
	Guildford
	Ipswich
	Luton
	Maidstone
	Medway
	Middlesbrough
	Milton Keynes
	Northampton
	Preston
	Reading
	Shrewsbury and Atcham
	Southend-on-Sea
	Stockport
	Swindon
	Telford
	Warrington
	Wirral
	Wales
	Aberystwyth
	Machynlleth
	Newport
	Newton
	St. Asaph
	Wrexham
	Scotland
	Ayr
	Dumfries
	Paisley
	Stirling
	Northern Ireland
	Ballymena
	Carrickfergus
	Coleraine
	Craigavon
	Lisburn
	Newry.

Ministerial Travel

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department 
	(1)  if he will list all official overseas visits undertaken by Ministers in his Department in each year since May 1997, indicating (a) the cost in (i) cash and (ii) real terms, (b) the number and grade of (i) civil servants and (ii) special advisers accompanying Ministers and (c) the number of official engagements or meetings undertaken on each visit; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  on how many occasions in each year since 1992 non-commercial flights were used by Ministers in his Department for official overseas visits; what the (a) destination, (b) Ministers involved, (c) cost and (d) reason for use of non-commercial flights were on each occasion; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Wills: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Banff and Buchan (Mr. Salmond) by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 15 October 2001, Official Report, column 823W.

Devolved Administrations

Alex Salmond: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what his policy is with regard to (a) ministers and (b) officials in his Department giving evidence to (i) Scottish Parliament, (ii) Welsh Assembly and (iii) Northern Ireland Assembly committees; and to what categories of document he gives (A) full access, (B) restricted access and (C) no access to (1) Scottish Parliament, (2) Welsh Assembly, (3) Northern Ireland Assembly and (4) House of Commons select committees.

Michael Wills: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Cabinet Office on 15 October 2001, Official Report, columns 100304W.

Departmental Staff

Pete Wishart: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will estimate the number of staff employed by his Department by region and nation of the UK; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office on 15 October 2001, Official Report, column 1008W.

Possession Orders

Lynne Jones: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what proportion of applications for possession orders were by (a) local authority landlords, (b) registered social landlords and (c) private landlords on grounds of arrears of rent in the most recent 12 month period for which figures are available, where delays in housing benefit were claimed to be the cause of the arrears.

Michael Wills: Figures concerning possession applications brought by landlords are not collected in the form requested, nor by reason of application. The figures could be provided only at disproportion cost.

Early Listing Dates

Michael Fallon: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment he has made of the delays to the arrangements of early listing dates in cases where the Crown Prosecution Service and the police have not prepared statements and arranged for witnesses to be available before pleas are entered.

Michael Wills: The national Trial Issues Group carried out a review of the reducing delay measures in November of last year, in so far as they affected the magistrates' courts. One of the recommendations was that a national agreement should be established on file quality standards so that it was clear when they were fit for purpose and ready to proceed to court.
	The Government's strategy to reduce unnecessary delay in the criminal justice system is being taken forward at a national level by the Trial Issues Group through its Reducing Delays Sub Group (RDSG). To achieve this, RDSG established a National Implementation Team consisting of officials from the Home Office, Lord Chancellor's Department, Crown Prosecution Service, police, Law Society and the Court Service. A post- Narey evaluation of most of the new procedures has now been carried out and an action plan based on its recommendations has been drawn up. TIG will oversee action generally on this during the course of this year.

Child Abduction

Mike Hancock: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department 
	(1)  how many cases of child abduction occurred in the United Kingdom in the past year; and to which countries;
	(2)  what international treaties the United Kingdom has signed relating to child abduction; with which countries; and what other international legislation covers child abduction;
	(3)  what assessment is made after the negotiation of the return to the United Kingdom of a child abducted by one parent to a foreign country of the child's preferences; and what priority the outcome of such an assessment has in relation to agreements signed with that country;
	(4)  if it is his policy, in cases of child abduction, to examine the circumstances and suitability of the UK- based parent prior to entering into negotiations about the child's return;
	(5)  what agreements the UK Government have made with other countries on the return of abducted children to the United Kingdom.

Rosie Winterton: Between September 2000 and August 2001, there were 140 cases reported to the Child Abduction Unit of children removed from England and Wales to countries which are signatories to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. These are broken down as follows:
	
		
			 Country  Number of cases 
		
		
			 United States of America 27 
			 Ireland 23 
			 Spain 18 
			 France 14 
			 Germany 8 
			 Canada 6 
			 Australia 5 
			 Netherlands 5 
			 Belgium 4 
			 New Zealand 4 
			 Sweden 3 
			 Greece 2 
			 Poland 2 
			 South Africa 2 
			 St. Kitts and Nevis 2 
			 Turkey 2 
			 Zimbabwe 2 
			 Cyprus 1 
			 Czech Republic 1 
			 Denmark 1 
			 Hong Kong 1 
			 Italy 1 
			 Mauritius 1 
			 Slovakia 1 
			 Switzerland 1 
		
	
	In addition, there are abductions to countries which are not party to the convention or which, for other reasons, are not reported to the Child Abduction Unit.
	The United Kingdom has signed the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction and the European Convention on Recognition and Enforcement of Decisions concerning Custody of Children and on Restoration of Custody of Children. A list of countries in which both conventions are in force with the UK is given in the table. In March 2001 the Brussels II regulation came into force. This regulation deals with the recognition and enforcement of judgments made in matrimonial proceedings and orders for parental responsibility in respect of children of both spouses. If a child is abducted or retained following a contact visit the left behind parent can use this legislation to recover the child. This regulation can only be used to enforce judgments made after 1 March 2001.
	If a child has been abducted to a country which is a signatory to the Hague Convention the court in the foreign country is normally under a duty to return the child to his state of habitual residence as quickly as possible. The underlying basis of the convention is that the receiving state should not enter into an investigation in relation to the custodial issues, but leave these to be resolved by the courts in the country of habitual residence. However, the foreign court is not under a duty to return the child if he objects to being returned and has attained an age and degree of maturity at which it is appropriate to take account of his views.
	While the foreign court is under a duty to return a child to his country of habitual residence as quickly as possible it may decline to do so if it would expose him to a risk of psychological or physical harm.
	The agreements the Government have made in relation to the return of abducted children to the United Kingdom are the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction and the Council of Europe Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Decisions Relating to the Custody of Children.
	
		Details of countries in which the Hague and European conventions are in force with the United Kingdom at 1 February 2001
		
			 Country Convention Date 
		
		
			 Argentina Hague (1.6.91) 
			 Australia Hague (1.1.87) 
			 Austria Hague/European (1.10.88) (1.8.86) 
			 Bahamas Hague (1.1.94) 
			 Belgium Hague/European (1.5.99) (1.8.86) 
			 Belize Hague (1.10.89) 
			 Bosnia and Herzegovina Hague (7.4.92) 
			 Burkina Faso Hague (1.8.92) 
			 Canada (most states) Hague (1.8.86) 
			 Chile Hague (1.5.94) 
			 Colombia Hague (1.3.96) 
			 Croatia Hague (1.12.91) 
			 Cyprus (Southern) Hague/European (1.2.95) (1.10.86) 
			 Czech Republic Hague/European (1.3.98) (1.7.00) 
			 Denmark Hague/European (1.7.91) (1.8.91) 
			 Ecuador Hague (1.4.92) 
			 Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Hague (27.4.92) 
			 Finland Hague/European (1.8.94) 
			 France Hague/European (1.8.86) 
			 Georgia Hague (1.12.97) 
			 Germany Hague/European (1.12.90) (1.2.91) 
			 Greece Hague/Eurpean (1.6.93) (1.7.93) 
			 Honduras Hague (1.3.94) 
			 Hong Kong Hague (1.9.97) 
			 Hungary Hague (1.9.86) 
			 Iceland Hague/European (1.11.96) 
			 Republic of Ireland Hague/European (1.10.91) 
			 Israel Hague (1.12.91) 
			 Italy Hague/European (1.5.95) (1.6.95) 
			 Liechtenstein European (1.8.97) 
			 Luxembourg Hague/European (1.1.87) (1.8.86) 
			 Macao Hague (1.3.99) 
			 Macedonia Hague (1.12.91) 
			 Malta European (1.2.00) 
			 Mauritius Hague (1.6.93) 
			 Mexico Hague (1.9.91) 
			 Monaco Hague (1.2.93) 
			 Netherlands Hague/European (1.9.90) 
			 New Zealand Hague (1.8.91) 
			 Norway Hague/European (1.4.98) (1.5.98) 
			 Panama Hague (1.12.91) 
			 Poland Hague/European (1.11.92) (1.3.96) 
			 Portugal Hague/European (1.8.86) 
			 Romania Hague (1.2.93) 
			 Slovenia Hague (1.6.94) 
			 Slovakia Hague (1.2.01) 
			 South Africa Hague (1.12.97) 
			 Spain Hague/European (1.9.87) (1.8.86) 
			 St. Kitts and Nevis Hague (1.8.94) 
			 Sweden Hague/European (1.6.89) (1.7.89) 
			 Switzerland Hague/European (1.8.86) 
			 Turkey Hague/European (1.8.00) (1.6.00) 
			 Turkmenistan Hague (1.5.98) 
			 U.S.A. Hague (1.7.88) 
			 Venezuela Hague (1.1.97) 
			 Zimbabwe Hague (1.7.95)

WORK AND PENSIONS

Departmental Budgets

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what is the budget for (a) the current fiscal year and (b) the next five years for (i) the UK and (ii) Scotland for departmental spending by his Department.

Nick Brown: The information requested is not available. Expenditure plans are published in Departmental Reports. However, the Department for Work and Pensions was created only in 200102 and the first Parliamentary Estimate covering the whole of the new Department is still being prepared.
	Departmental plans are not broken down by region but information regarding expenditure in Scotland up to the 19992000 fiscal year is available in HM Treasury's publication Public Expenditure Statistical Analysis (PESA) (200102) published in April 2001 under Command Number 5101.

SEMA Doctors

Tim Collins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the work of SEMA doctors for the Benefits Agency in south Cumbria.

Maria Eagle: There is currently a shortage of examining doctors in south Cumbria. This has resulted in some delay, particularly during the summer months, to the processing of claims for Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance. SchlumbergerSema Medical Services are actively recruiting new doctors to address the shortage, and as a temporary measure they are planning to use doctors from the North East to cover Cumbria if necessary.

Pension Awareness Advertising

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will place in the Library the research into the pension awareness advertising campaign referred to in his Department's press release of 21 September.

Ian McCartney: The evaluation of the pensions education advertising campaign has been placed in the Library.

Benefit Fraud

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the targets set for reducing fraud in respect of each benefit and payment for which his Department has responsibility; and what progress has been made towards meeting such targets in each year since 1997.

Malcolm Wicks: We have put in place a comprehensive strategy to reduce fraud across all benefits. We are tightening up the system to make sure that from the very first claim, the right benefits are going to the right people.
	We have firm targets for reducing the amount of fraud and error in Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance. The Department is aiming for a reduction of 25 per cent. by 2004 and 50 per cent. by 2006. We have met our first milestone, which was to achieve a 10 per cent. reduction by March 2002, 18 months ahead of schedule.
	This year we have also introduced for the first time a continuous measure of the level of Housing Benefit fraud. We will consider the appropriateness and scope for setting targets for reducing the level of incorrectness in Housing Benefit in the light of the results of this exercise.
	We have also introduced an ongoing programme of National Benefit Reviews looking at other benefits. These reviews are providing us with the intelligence we need to focus our efforts where it is needed most.

Jobseeker's Allowance (Earnings Limit)

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will change the limit on earnings which can be retained by people on Jobseeker's Allowance; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The earnings disregards for Jobseeker's Allowance are aimed at achieving a balance between encouraging people to undertake part-time work and remain in touch with the labour market, while not creating disincentives for them to take up full-time work and become independent.
	We keep the levels of earnings disregards under review. The higher earnings disregard for lone parents, people with disabilities and certain other special groups was increased by a third to 20 from April this year.

Maintenance Payments

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how much money in excess of the proper calculation was paid by parents without care through the Child Support Agency to parents with care, in the last year for which information is available; and how much was recovered from parents with care and repaid to parents without care;
	(2)  how much money below the proper calculation was paid by parents without care through the Child Support Agency to parents with care, in the last year for which information is available; and how much was subsequently recovered and paid over.

Malcolm Wicks: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Mike Isaac to Mr. Andrew Turner, dated 11 October 2001
	I am replying to your Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions about the Child Support Agency.
	Mr Smith is unavailable and therefore I am writing to you on his behalf.
	You asked how much money in excess of the proper calculation was paid by parents without care through the Child Support Agency to parents with care in the last year for which information is available; and how much was recovered from parents with care and repaid to parents without care.
	You also asked how much money below the proper calculation was paid by parents without care through the Child Support Agency to parents with care in the last year for which information is available; and how much was subsequently recovered and paid over.
	The information you have requested in the first part of each question is not available, as it is not collected in the format you have asked for.
	However in the Agency's Annual Report and Accounts for 20002001, the National Audit Office estimated that overpayments amounted to 5 million and underpayments amount to 12 million. These figures were based on a sample of cases examined, which showed underlying errors in maintenance assessments and incorrect adjustments to customer's accounts. Any variance of 1p of more in an assessment is regarded as an error.
	Where we identify that maintenance has been overpaid it will be refunded to the parent without care either in a lump sum or by means of reducing the ongoing liability that has to be paid.
	Maintenance that was due but not paid is collected as arrears. Arrears are either received in lump sum payments or agreements are reached where by a parent without care will pay an amount towards arrears in addition to regular maintenance. If no agreement can be reached between the Agency and the parent without care then that case would undergo enforcement action.
	The value of the excess of the proper calculation and also that, which is below the proper calculation, is not collected in the format you have requested to enable me to give a definitive reply.
	I hope this is helpful.

Invalid Care Allowance

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will set out for Q1 199899 to Q1 200102 (a) how many people were awaiting an appeal for Invalid Care Allowance at the end of each quarter, (b) the average time it took to process the appeal and (c) the average time it took to process the original claim.

Maria Eagle: holding answer 15 October 2001
	The information is as follows:
	(a) The number of Invalid Care Allowance appeals outstanding at the end of each quarter from 1998 to 2001 are shown in table 1. The figures for 200102 are not available.
	
		Table 1: Invalid Care Allowance appeals on the last day of each quarter
		
			   Number 
		
		
			 199899  
			 Quarter 1 1,217 
			 Quarter 2 1,274 
			 Quarter 3 1,223 
			 Quarter 4 1,358 
			 19992000  
			 Quarter 1 911 
			 Quarter 2 661 
			 Quarter 3 449 
			 Quarter 4 336 
			 200001  
			 Quarter 1 273 
			 Quarter 2 304 
			 Quarter 3 366 
			 Quarter 4 392 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Information taken from 100 per cent. download of the Generic Appeals Processing System (GAPS). All figures are subject to change. Figures are being provided by BA DCBD.
	2. Quarters run:
	1. April-June, 2. July-September, 3. October-December, 4. January March each year.
	(b) The average clearance times from receipt of the Appeal by the Benefits Agency to the Appeals Service issuing the tribunal's decision and the average waiting times from receipt of the appeal by the Benefits Agency to the first hearing by a tribunal for 1998 to 2001 are shown in table 2. The figures for 200102 are not available.
	
		Table 2: Invalid Care Allowance average clearance and waiting timesin weeksfor cases heard in the quarter
		
			   Clearance times(9) Waiting times(10) 
		
		
			 199899   
			 Quarter 1 28.2 27.5 
			 Quarter 2 28.5 27.8 
			 Quarter 3 26.2 24.1 
			 Quarter 4 28.6 24.6 
			 19992000   
			 Quarter 1 28.9 24.4 
			 Quarter 2 29.3 25.2 
			 Quarter 3 30.8 23.6 
			 Quarter 4 39.1 26.5 
			 200001   
			 Quarter 1 28.7 22.0 
			 Quarter 2 29.9 22.0 
			 Quarter 3 27.1 21.7 
			 Quarter 4 28.6 23.0 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Clearance times shown apply from the date of lodgement with the Benefits Agency to the Appeals Service issuing the tribunal's decision. Thus delays caused by adjournments are included. The time taken for the Benefits Agency to implement the decision is not included.
	2. Waiting times shown apply from the date of lodgement with the Benefits Agency to the date of the first tribunal hearing.
	3. Quarters run:
	1. April-June, 2. July-September, 3. October-December, 4. January March each year.
	(c) The average times taken to process Invalid Care Allowance claims for 1998 to the first quarter of 200102 are shown in table 3.
	
		Table 3: Average time taken to process an Invalid Care Allowance claimin daysfor quarters
		
			   Days 
		
		
			 199899  
			 Quarter 1 19.3 
			 Quarter 2 18.3 
			 Quarter 3 19.0 
			 Quarter 4 18.7 
			 19992000  
			 Quarter 1 18.0 
			 Quarter 2 18.7 
			 Quarter 3 21.0 
			 Quarter 4 19.7 
			 200001  
			 Quarter 1 18.0 
			 Quarter 2 20.3 
			 Quarter 3 21.3 
			 Quarter 4 20.0 
			 200102  
			 Quarter 1 19.7 
		
	
	Note:
	1. Quarters run:
	1. April-June, 2. July-September, 3. October-December, 4. January March each year.

Benefit Claims

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what is his intended timetable for allowing local authorities to receive permissive powers to allow agency and contractor staff to determine benefit claims.

Malcolm Wicks: We will shortly begin informal discussions with local authorities with a view to introducing permissive powers from spring 2002. In addition to this we will fully consult with the Local Authority Associations and take account of any views expressed by other interested parties.

Incapacity Benefit

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what the effect will be on incapacity benefit entitlement where an incapacity benefit recipient applies for employment following a work-focused interview; and if the fact that the application has been made will have any bearing on the outcome of any future personal capability assessment;
	(2)  if it is his intention that, after a work-focused interview for an incapacity benefit claimant there will be continued one to one contact between the interviewer and the claimant for provision of future advice and guidance; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what is the level of contact anticipated between a work-focused interviewer and a Personal Capability Assessment Medical Examiner for incapacity benefit claimants in pilot areas for the Social Security (Jobcentre Plus Interviews) Regulations 2001; and if records from work-focused interviews will be available to PCA examiners;
	(4)  if the outcome of a work-focused interview for incapacity benefit claimants in pilot areas for the Social Security (Jobcentre Plus Interviews) Regulations 2001 will influence the timing of a claimant's next personal capability assessment.

Malcolm Wicks: Work-focused Interviews will enable people receiving incapacity benefit to consider their work options and to hear about the practical and financial help that is available to them. An application for employment following a work-focused interview will have no effect on an individual's incapacity benefit entitlement and would not in itself have any bearing on the outcome of any future personal capability assessment. If a person subsequently took up employment, entitlement might be affected as there are limited circumstances in which people can work and receive incapacity benefit.
	A person receiving incapacity benefit will be able contact their Personal Adviser at any time following the work-focused interview to seek further advice and guidance. They will also be able to take part in a review when they will have the opportunity to discuss the help and benefits available to them.
	There will be no direct contact between the work- focused interview Personal Adviser and the personal capability assessment medical examiner. Records from the work-focused interview will not be available to personal capability assessment medical advisers.
	The participation of a person in a work-focused interview will not generally influence the timing of their next personal capability assessment. However, if at the time their Personal Adviser considers it appropriate they may refer the case to a benefit decision-maker to consider if, in the light of all the available evidence, a personal capability assessment is required.

Occupational Pensions

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the number of integrated private schemes which take into account increases to the state pension after retirement age when calculating the amount of occupational pension payable;
	(2)  if the Government will introduce similar legislation to that enacted in Ireland to prohibit integrated private schemes which take into account increases to the state pension after retirement age when calculating the amount of occupational pension payable.

Ian McCartney: The Government have no plans to introduce legislation on integration in the manner described because there is no evidence that UK occupational pension schemes take increases in the state pension into account once state pension age has passed and the scheme member's pension is in payment.
	It is estimated that in 1995 there were approximately 7,200 private sector defined benefit occupational pension schemes which operated integration of some form to allow for the receipt of state pensions.
	In general, the integration adjustment is applied at the time the pension is calculated at the date of retirement or at the date state pension age is reached. The resultant pension is then subject to increases according to the scheme rules. These rules also protect against the level of pension from being reduced once it has gone into payment.

TREASURY

LETS and Time Banks

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his Department's policy on people who take part in (a) local exchange trading schemes and (b) time banks with specific reference to taxation.

Paul Boateng: holding answer 18 October 2001
	Local exchange and trading schemes and time banks are dealt with in accordance with normal tax rules. If a trader offers their goods and services through a LETS scheme then they will be liable to tax in the normal way. If a non-trader offers their goods and services through a scheme there should be no liability. Since both the form of these organisations and of members' activities within them can differ, anyone in doubt about the tax position, whether organiser or scheme member, should check the position with the local tax office.

Beer Imports

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate HM Customs has made of the amount of beer imported illegally into the UK in lorries and containers in each of the last five years.

Paul Boateng: holding answer 18 October 2001
	HM Customs and Excise do not currently produce an estimate of the amount of beer illegally imported to the UK in lorries and containers.

VAT (Wet Suits)

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his Department's policy on exempting VAT on specialist wet suits for those agencies who operate in the area of emergency rescue.

Paul Boateng: holding answer 18 October 2001
	Those publicly funded agencies who operate in the area of emergency rescue are fully compensated for any VAT they may incur when purchasing specialist wet suits. In this respect such equipment does not require an exemption from VAT.

Climate Change Levy

Alex Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce relief from the Climate Change Levy for businesses which invest in processes which significantly reduce electricity consumption; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Boateng: To protect the competitiveness of UK industry, sectors covered by the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Directive Parts A1 and A2 are able to get 80 per cent. reductions in the Climate Change Levy in exchange for entering negotiated agreements with the Government to deliver specific energy reductions. These agreements cover the main energy intensive sectors exposed to international competition.
	Any business may benefit from the levy-funded Enhanced Capital Allowances when they invest in approved energy efficient products or technologies. And they can obtain energy efficiency advice and audits through the new Carbon Trust. Businesses which reduce their energy consumption will of course pay less Climate Change Levy and reduce their level of environmental pollution.

Climate Change Levy

Alex Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many businesses benefit from relief on the Climate Change Levy; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what agreements exist with industry representative bodies for relief from Climate Change Levy; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Boateng: To protect the competitiveness of UK industry, sectors covered by the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Directive Parts A1 and A2 are able to get 80 per cent. reductions in the Climate Change Levy in exchange for entering negotiated agreements with the Government to deliver specific energy reductions.
	There are 44 overarching agreements with representative bodies covering 39 sectors. These relate to over 5,000 firms, operating at just under 13,000 sites.
	There are other reliefs available to any business, including exemptions for new forms of renewable energy and for combined heat and power systems.

Home Maintenance

Lynne Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the definition of an improvement in the context of tax deductibility of expenditure on home maintenance.

Paul Boateng: In general terms improvements to domestic property constitute personal expenditure and are not tax deductible. In the case of a trader whether expenditure on a business asset constitutes an improvement or a repair for tax purposes is a question of fact and will depend upon the circumstances in each case.

Vehicle Excise Rebate

Andrew Turner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reason he decided that the rebates on vehicle excise duty for cars up to 1549cc would apply only to licences obtained after November 2000.

Paul Boateng: In the November 2000 pre-Budget report, the Chancellor proposed that he would extend the small car engine VED rate for cars first registered before 1 March 2001 from 1200cc to 1500cc, subject to consultation. The Chancellor also proposed that this extension should have immediate effect, as if starting in November 2000.
	In Budget 2001, the Chancellor confirmed that following consultation, the Government would extend the small car engine VED rate from 1200cc to 1549cc. To deliver the commitment to ensure that the extension applied from November 2000, all motorists who took out vehicle licences between November 2000 and June 2001 inclusive have been invited to apply for rebates. Any new licences taken out from 1 July 2001 are charged at the new, lower rate.

Football Transfer Fees

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much VAT was raised on football transfer fees in each of the last five years at current prices.

Paul Boateng: The information is not available.

VAT (Housing Associations)

Lynne Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to interpret VAT regulations so that zero-rating of aids and adaptation works is applied to non-charitable housing associations.

Paul Boateng: The zero-rate for aids and adaptation works is available only to disabled people, charities and housing associations that choose to operate as charities. The UK's ability to extend zero rates is limited by EU agreements.

Social Housing (VAT)

Lynne Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to reduce VAT to 5 per cent. on all works to existing social housing.

Paul Boateng: A reduced rate of VAT on all works to social housing would be a major change to the VAT base. Such a change would require careful consideration of all the social, environmental and economic effects.

Biofuels

Helen Clark: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the extent to which the proposed 20p rebate on biodiesel will stimulate production of biodiesel in order to meet the expected EU targets for road transport fuel to be from bio sources.

Alan Beith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what fiscal steps he has taken to ensure that the United Kingdom can meet the European Commission target for road transport fuel to be provided by biofuels by the year 2005.

Paul Boateng: Under the Green Fuel Challenge launched in November last year, the Government announced that, subject to EU agreement, it will introduce a new duty rate for biodiesel in Budget 2002, at 20p per litre below the rate for ultra-low sulphur diesel. This rate takes account of the environmental benefits of using biodiesel.
	The rate for biodiesel will be reviewed each year in the light of the prevailing social and economic circumstances, including any relevant European requirements. At present, the European Union has not published any targets for the use of biofuels as road transport fuel.

Railtrack

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received from Railtrack employees with shareholdings in the company.

Andrew Smith: Treasury Ministers receive a variety of representations from a wide range of people on a daily basis.

Railtrack

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he had with Cabinet colleagues about Railtrack in the week prior to the announcement that it was going into administration.

Andrew Smith: Treasury Ministers have discussions on a wide range of issues with colleagues and a variety of people and organisations on a daily basis.

Public-Private Partnership

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received since 8 October from (a) actual and (b) potential public-private partnership partners concerning the structure of partnership contracts.

Andrew Smith: Treasury Ministers receive a wide range of representations from a variety of groups and individuals on a daily basis.

Public-Private Partnership

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guidelines his Department sets down on how Departments should (a) assess, (b) quantify and (c) define political risk in public-private partnerships; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Smith: In assessing programmes, policies and projects, it is important that Departments take proper account of all risks likely to affect achievement of their requirements. General Treasury guidance on risk assessment in the context of investment appraisal for all types of projects, including those taken forward by way of public-private partnerships, is set out in Appraisal and Evaluation in Central Government published by the Stationery Office. In addition, the Treasury has published general guidance on the strategic management of risk, including political risk, in Management of Risk: a Strategic Overview. Copies of both publications are available in the Library of the House.

Teenage Parents (Jarrow)

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of teenage parents is not in education, employment or training in the Jarrow constituency.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Stephen Hepburn, dated 22 October 2001
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question about the proportion of teenage parents not in education, employment or training in the Jarrow constituency (9105).
	Information on teenage parents is not available from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) for Parliamentary Constituencies.
	The wards comprising Jarrow constituency fall within the local authority districts of South Tyneside and Gateshead, but the LFS sample size for teenage parents in these districts is too small to provide reliable estimates of the proportion who are not in education, employment or training.

Barnett Formula

Nick Harvey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has (a) to review the Barnett formula and (b) to undertake a review of Government expenditure in the regions of the UK.

Andrew Smith: The Government's policy on funding the devolved Administrations, including the Barnett formula, is set out in the Statement of Funding Policy, published by the Treasury in July 2000. The spending of UK Government Departments will be reviewed in the 2002 spending review in the normal way.

Auditors

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to review the work of auditors.

Andrew Smith: holding answer 19 October 2001
	The Government are currently considering recommendations made by Lord Sharman in his report Holding to Account which arose out of his review of audit and accountability for central Government in the 21st century. The report includes recommendations designed to ensure high quality external audit in central Government. The Government will be responding to the report following due consideration of the issues raised.
	With regard to external audit standards in the economy more widely, there are statutory arrangements which require company auditors to be properly supervised and appropriately qualified. These arrangements are a matter for the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.

Personal Investment Authority Investigations

Howard Flight: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many firms have paid an administrative fee for Personal Investment Authority Ombudsman investigations into complaints brought by clients regarding financial advice in the last financial year; on how many occasions fees were levied; how much money was raised in total; in what percentage of cases the firm was found to be at fault; and what was the total cost to the FSA of investigating those cases.

Ruth Kelly: In the year ending 31 March 2001, the Personal Investment Authority Ombudsman Bureau (PIAOB) received 17,255 new cases against PIA regulated firms, each of which attracted a 500 case fee. 13,000 cases were resolved during this period, of which 46 per cent. were resolved by voluntary agreement between each side, through conciliation or mediation, and 22 per cent. of which were found against the firm.
	The total cost to the PIAOB of dealing with these 13,000 complaints was 9.5 million. This was funded by 6.5 million in case fees; 2.8 million direct from the PIA; and the 0.2 million balance from other income (mainly sale of publications). The PIAOB investigates complaints itself and so there was no cost to the FSA in investigating these cases.

Census

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what measures will be taken to provide accurate and reliable census data for Eastbourne;
	(2)  when the (a) summary and (b) full census results for Eastbourne will be published;
	(3)  what percentage of households in (a) Eastbourne and (b) Wealden completed a census return.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Nigel Waterson, dated 22 October 2001
	As National Statistician and Registrar for England and Wales, I have been asked to reply to your recent questions on:
	1. what measures will be taken to provide accurate and reliable census data for Eastbourne (9099);
	2. when (a) summary and (b) full census results for Eastbourne will be published (9097);
	3. what percentage of households in (a) Eastbourne and (b) Wealden completed a census return (9098).
	In answer to the first question, a number of measures have either already been implemented or will be taken to provide accurate and reliable census data. Prior to the Census, an important new initiative was the Community Liaison programme. Its main objectives were:
	to facilitate enumeration and to ensure full coverage;
	to help provide a source of potential field staff;
	to advertise the Census and to underline its uses;
	to provide help to individual members of local communities;
	to help with translations and advertising.
	This, coupled with the new strategy of asking the public to post their completed forms back, enabled resources to be targeted to where they were most needed.
	Despite these efforts, it was always anticipated that some people would not be counted and that the degree of under-enumeration would vary across the country. The extent and nature of such under-enumeration will be more accurately assessed than ever before by the extensive, separate, follow-up Census Coverage Survey carried out by interviewing around 300,000 households shortly after the Census enumeration was completed. Once the interview responses and all the Census returns have been analysed, we will have a definitive picture of how well we have done at Local Authority level. The sample size was large enough for estimates of levels of under-enumeration for each Local Authority to be made and will enable the Office for National Statistics (ONS) to create a complete dataset for analysis of individual communities that takes account of this estimated under-enumeration.
	Information about the quality of Census data will be published on the National Statistics website and brought together in a Census Quality Report to be published in 2003.
	With regard to your second question, the target date for mid-year 2001 population estimates by sex and age for all local authority areas based on the 2001 Census is August 2002. These will include an adjustment for births, deaths and migration between Census Day (29 April 2001) and 30 June 2001. The target date for summary Census resultsKey Statistics for areas throughout England and Wales (including Eastbourne) is December 2002. They will be laid before Parliament and accessible through the National Statistics website.
	The full census data for Eastbourne will be published along with the detailed results for all the other local authority areas in the first half of 2003; these will be accessible via the National Statistics website.
	In response to your final question, I am unable, at this stage, to provide detailed information on the response rate to the Census in Eastbourne and Wealden. This will be available in Autumn 2002. Currently the ONS estimates that the 2001 Census response rate nationally will reach 98 per cent. of households.

VAT

David Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has for changes to the eligibility criteria for the VAT annual accounting scheme.

Paul Boateng: Customs are currently analysing responses to the recent consultation exercise and will be making recommendations to Ministers in due course.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Police Numbers (Northamptonshire)

Phil Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions he has had with the chief constable on police numbers in Northamptonshire.

John Denham: I have not had any discussions with the chief constable about police numbers in Northamptonshire.
	On 1 October Northamptonshire police had 1,209 officers, 52 more than in March 2001. This is a record number of officers. The force also had 724 civilian staff, 30 more than in March 2001.
	Under the crime fighting fund (CFF) recruitment initiative, Northamptonshire police has been allocated a total of 90 additional recruits, over and above its previous recruitment plans for the three years to March 2003.
	In 200001 Northamptonshire police recruited all 32 of its CFF allocation for that year and had approval to accelerate 31 of its 200102 allocation into 200001. There will therefore be one CFF recruit in 200102 and a further 26 CFF recruits in 200203.

Police Complaints

Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to improve the police complaints system.

John Denham: We will bring forward legislation in this Session, which will include provisions to establish a new police complaints system to replace the current system. The new system will mean a new body, the Independent Police Complaints Commission, will replace the Police Complaints Authority. The Government published their plans for a new system in a framework document on 18 December last year, copies of which can be found in the Library.

Police (Reassurance Work)

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the reassurance work of the police.

John Denham: The police reform process is looking at the ways in which the visibility and accessibility of the police can be increased. We have been working closely with the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) to identify how these approaches could be used to increase levels of public reassurance. We are also looking at how to make best use of those who work with the police as partners in delivering community safety.

Police (North Yorkshire)

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions he has had with the chief constable on increasing the number of police officers in North Yorkshire.

John Denham: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has not discussed police numbers with the chief constable. He has arranged to visit the North Yorkshire police in the near future. A range of issues will be discussed including the resources available to the force.
	I am told by the chief constable that the force had 1,388 police officers on 21 September which is 83 more than on 31 March 2001. 1 understand that the force is on target to have 1,420 officers by 31 March 2002. The force also had 682 civilian support staff91 more than in March.

Police (North Yorkshire)

Lawrie Quinn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to visit Scarborough and Whitby to inspect the North Yorkshire police force and the rural mobile police station initiative.

John Denham: I am keen to visit as many police forces as I can to hear the views of the police service and to see the work being done to reduce crime and provide public reassurance. I will be visiting North Yorkshire police on 1 November and will be interested to hear of innovative ways of making police officers more visible and accessible to the communities they serve.

Drug Education Programmes

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will visit the DARE drug education programme and make it a model for a nationwide scheme for all 10-year-olds.

Bob Ainsworth: I am unable to visit the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) Programme at present.
	I am aware of the contribution made by DARE Programme to drug education schemes in a number of areas, particularly the strong support it has in the Nottinghamshire area. However, it is for local education authorities to decide on the most appropriate approach to drug education in their schools, taking account of the specific needs and circumstances of pupils in that area.
	The Department for Education and Skills (DFES) has issued guidance encouraging schools to deliver drug, alcohol and tobacco education as part of a broader personal, social and health education (PSHE) curriculum. This framework has been in place since September 2000 for pupils aged five to 16 and gives PSHE an assured place in the national curriculum.
	Drug education in schools is part of a wide range of services for young people jointly planned and commissioned through Drug Action Teams (DATs), and monitored through Young Persons Substance Misuse Plans. The plans aim to ensure that, by 2004, in every DAT area there will be substance misuse education and information for all young people and their families; advice and support targeted at vulnerable groups; early identification of need; and tailored support to all who need it.

Police Suspensions (Wales)

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers in the (a) Dyfed Powys area and (b) Aberystwyth division were suspended from work on full, part or sick pay for (i) six months, (ii) one year and (iii) two years or more during the last year.

John Denham: The Professional Standards Department of Dyfed-Powys police has informed me that there are currently four officers suspended, two of whom are based in the Aberystwyth division. These two officers have been suspended since September and December 1999. The other two officers are from the Brecon division and have been suspended since October 2000.
	In addition, one officer from Aberystwyth division was suspended on 27 June 2000 and reinstated on 27 July 2001 (a period of some 13 months). Another officer from the same division was suspended on 10 October 2000 and reinstated on 31 November 2000 (a period of one month).
	During the year 200001 the following officers have also now been reinstated, or have resigned, following a period of suspension. They are given in chronological date order. One officer from a headquarters department was suspended on 13 August 1999 and resigned from the service on 15 March 2000 (a period of some seven months). One officer from Carmarthen division was suspended on 3 September 1999 and reinstated on 7 April 2000 (a period of some seven months). One officer from Brecon division was suspended on 6 December 1999 and reinstated on 15 May 2000 (a period of some five months). One officer from Pembrokeshire division was suspended on 6 June 2000 and reinstated on 6 September 2001 (a period of some 15 months). One officer from Pembrokeshire division was suspended on 19 February 2001 and reinstated on 6 September 2001 (a period of some seven months). The Dyfed-Powys police have confirmed that all the officers concerned were, or are, suspended on full pay.

Police Personnel Management

Terry Rooney: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the management of personnel within police forces.

John Denham: The Government are committed to ensuring that the police service as a whole has modern and effective personnel policies. Such policies are vital to improving the fitness, the readiness and the availability of all forces to tackle crime. We want the police service to have the very best modern management practices. A key part of our strategy is the development of an occupational health service to be co-ordinated nationally and delivered locally.

Female Police Officers

Jane Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to improve retention of female officers in the police force.

John Denham: The police reform process should deliver working conditions and practices which will support all officers and in particular female officers. We have already taken action to support more flexible working practices; we have recently laid the Police (Amendment) Regulations 2001 which will, from 1 November, extend part-time working to chief inspector rank. This, and a report which the Home Office is about to publish on flexible working in the police service, should greatly assist chief officers to adopt a more strategic approach to improve recruitment, retention, efficiency and effectiveness.

Police Numbers (Sussex)

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on police numbers in Sussex.

John Denham: I understand from the acting chief constable that on 1 October 2001 Sussex police had 2,963 police officers, 108 more than in March 2001. The force also had 1,573 civilian support staff, 119 more than in March 2001.
	Under the crime fighting fund (CFF) we have allocated Sussex police 206 CFF recruits over three years to March 2003; 47 were recruited in 200001. Latest information from the force indicates that it expects to recruit 83 of its CFF allocation in 200102 and a further 76 in 200203.

Police Numbers (Sussex)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about police numbers in Sussex.

John Denham: I am told by the acting chief constable of Sussex that on 1 October 2001 Sussex police had 2,963 police officers, 108 more than in March 2001. The force also had 1,573 civilian support staff, 119 more than in March 2001.
	The crime fighting fund is delivering more police officers to Sussex police. Information supplied by the force shows that Sussex expects to take on a total of 224 new recruits this year.

Police Numbers (South-East)

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received on police numbers in the south-east.

John Denham: I have received a number of representations from forces in the area covered by the Government offices for the south-east and London since April 2001.
	There have been six representations by means of parliamentary questions and an Adjournment debate. There have also been written representations from hon. Members about police numbers in Sussex and Thames Valley. I have had representations from the City of London police about its resources.
	My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary meets regularly with the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, the Chairman of the Metropolitan Police Authority and the Mayor of London at which a range of issues are discussed, including police numbers.
	There have been two representations about police numbers in the Essex police.
	Police numbers in the Government regions for the south-east and London and the Essex police as at 31 March 2001 are set in the table.
	
		
			 Force Police numbers Increase over March 2000 Civilian support staff numbers Change over 31 March 2000 
		
		
			 City of London 703 -29 233 -52 
			 Metropolitan police(9) 24,878 -607 10,040 -565 
			 Hampshire 3,435 +16 1,482 +39 
			 Kent 3,319 +115 1,796 +149 
			 Surrey(9) 2,066 +281 897 +135 
			 Sussex 2,855 +33 1,454 +127 
			 Thames Valley 3,703 -37 1,891 +105 
			 Essex(9) 2,887 +81 1,447 +99 
		
	
	(9) Most of the reduction in policy numbers in the Metropolitan police is due to the boundary changes on 1 April with Essex, Hertfordshire and Surrey. These changes will therefore have contributed to the increase in police numbers in Essex and Surrey for 200001.

Speed Cameras

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the guidance issued on the siting of speed control cameras.

John Denham: Since speed cameras were introduced in 1992, they have been sited in accordance with guidance set out in Home Office Circular 38/92. This specifies that they should be located where there is a known history of accidents and the major contributory factor is excessive speed. The Home Office is currently working with the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (DTLR), the police and local authorities to produce firmer guidance on siting, visibility and signing.

Avon and Somerset Police Authority

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make increased funding available to the Avon and Somerset police authority.

John Denham: Under the funding settlement for 200102 Avon and Somerset police authority set a budget of 189.7 million. This was an increase of 4.7 per cent. over 200001.
	The police authority received an increase in grant supported funding of 7.7 million (4.4 per cent) in 200102. The force will also benefit this year from an allocation of O.993 million from the rural policing fund. Provision in 200102 for 67 officers recruited last year under the Crime Fighting Fund (CFF) will be about 1.69 million. In addition, if the force's forecast of recruitment for this year holds, it will receive about 0.99 million for 51 CFF recruits agreed for 200102.

Drug Abuse

Peter Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will establish a Royal Commission to examine the law on drug abuse.

Bob Ainsworth: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary to the question from the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire (Mr. Kirkwood) on 2 July 2001, Official Report, columns 1517.

Rural Policing

Peter Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the effect on crime levels of the increased funding for rural policing; and if he will make a statement.

Keith Bradley: During the 200001 financial year, police authorities in rural areas received 15 million from the police modernisation fund to improve policing in rural areas. For the 200102 financial year, police authorities received 30 million.
	Police authorities are required to publish a statement on how the money has been, and will be, spent in their annual policing/best value performance plan. This statement includes what aspects of rural policing were or will be targeted for improvement; what level of improvement was or will be achieved and how the impact of the police in rural areas will be enhanced. Police authorities can use the suite of best value performance indicators to demonstrate the improvements in policing.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Judy Mallaber: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking to extend the use of antisocial behaviour orders.

Beverley Hughes: Antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) are one measure in this Government's drive to control disorder on estates and in communities. I am determined that ASBOs play their proper part in reducing crime and disorder. We have conducted a research review of the effectiveness of ASBOs during their first two years in operation. We will announce later this year our detailed conclusions on how to extend their use.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many antisocial behaviour orders have been applied for and issued in (a) the north-west and (b) Wales.

John Denham: There is known to have been some under-recording of antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) in a few police force areas. With the co-operation of the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), we are therefore undertaking a one-off reconciliation exercise to establish any differences between the numbers of ASBOs known to the police and the data from court returns. I will write to the hon. Member when the information becomes available.

Police Numbers (South Wales)

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to meet the chief constable of south Wales police to discuss staffing of police stations in south Wales.

John Denham: I have met the chief constable on a number of occasions mostly in his capacity as president of the Association of Chief Police Officers. We have discussed a range of issues including the resourcing of the police service.
	It is for the chief constable to determine staffing levels at police stations in south Wales. He will assess local needs in line with operational priorities and the force policing plan and allocate available resources accordingly.
	I am told by the chief constable that in September the force had 3,217 officers, which is a record number. Between March and September this year police numbers in the force increased by 117. The force also had 1,235 civilian support staff.

Young Offenders

Barbara Follett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the measures he is taking to reduce youth offending.

Beverley Hughes: We have introduced a wide programme across Government to tackle those factors which lead young people into crime. This includes initiatives which focus on the family; tackle deprivation; and address absenteeism from school, under-age drinking and drug misuse.
	We have also transformed youth justice by cutting delays, expanding the options available to the police and courts and establishing new national and local structures. We are currently introducing the intensive supervision and surveillance programme for persistent young offenders, and next April referral orders will start operating nationally.

Police Recruitment and Retention

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on police retention and recruitment.

John Denham: Police numbers rose to 125,519 at March 2001 following the largest single annual increase in police numbers since 198889. In the 12 months to 31 March forces recruited 64 per cent. more officers than the previous year. Wastage remains low compared with other occupations at under 5 per cent. of strength.
	The upward trend in police numbers will continue as the impact of the crime fighting fund increases. We expect the total number of police officers to reach 128,000 by March 2002 and 130,000 by March 2004.

Violent Crime

Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on levels of violent crime.

John Denham: Crime overall has fallen under this Government. The most recent British Crime Survey, which is widely recognised as providing the best picture of long-term trends in crime, shows a drop in violent crime of 4 per cent. between 1997 and 1999. But we know from the increase shown in police recorded crime figures that level of violent crime remains too high and we must continue to do all we can to reduce it.
	Our strategic approach to tackling violent crime is based on improving support for victims, more efficient, intelligence-led policing, more effective punishment, dealing with the causes of violent crime and tackling the conditions which breed violence.
	Last year we gave 20 million to the five metropolitan forces which account for nearly three quarters of all recorded robberies, specifically to assist them in meeting their five-year robbery reduction targets. They have used the money to introduce a number of new initiatives and to reinforce good practice. These include the targeting of hotspots (including transport routes) and offenders based on better intelligence, higher visibility of uniformed officers on the street, mobile CCTV vans, a range of publicity measures, improved recording, scene of crime management, investigation and identification techniques; youth diversion measures, the creation of safe routes into city centres, and targeted anti-mobile phone theft campaigns.

Crime Reduction Partnerships

Geraint Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on crime reduction partnerships.

John Denham: Crime and disorder reduction partnerships lie at the heart of crime reduction and the effective development and implementation of local strategies by police, local authorities and other local groups to ensure a community-based approach to tackle local problems.

Police Numbers

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average number of police officers is per 10,000 of population in (a) England and (b) Cambridgeshire.

John Denham: holding answer 16 October 2001
	The information requested is set out in the table.
	
		Number of staff per 10,000 population
		
			  Cambridgeshire constabulary England 
		
		
			 31 March 2001   
			 Police officers (10)17.87 23.4 
			 Civilian support staff (10)8.47 10.3 
		
	
	(10) Population figures are those for mid-1999, the latest available from the ONS.

Immigration and Nationality Directorate

Oona King: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many compensation payments the Immigration and Nationality Directorate has made for the loss of passports and original documents, and at what cost, in each of the past 10 years.

Angela Eagle: Details of compensation payments were not recorded centrally prior to April 2000.
	Records of compensation payments made in respect of claims against the Integrated Casework Directorate have been kept centrally since April 2000. In the financial year 200001, 410 claims were approved; 44,550 was paid in compensation. In the first six months of the current financial year, 214 claims have been approved and 68,165 has been paid. As there is a timelag of around two months between authorisation and payment, a number of claims agreed in 200001 will have been paid in the current financial year. Records of payments do not differentiate between claims in connection with lost passports and other claims arising from maladministration by the directorate but we estimate that around 85 per cent. relate to lost passports and associated costs such as travel expenses.

Asylum Seekers (Algeria)

Oona King: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many failed asylum seekers have been returned to Algeria in each of the last 10 years; and what guidance he gives for returning Algerians to that country.

Angela Eagle: The requested information on the number of failed asylum seekers returned to Algeria in each of the last 10 years is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Available information on the number of Algerian nationals who were removed from the United Kingdom, having at some stage sought asylum, is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1995 150 
			 1996 200 
			 1997 180 
			 1998 80 
			 1999 100 
			 2000 80 
		
	
	Guidance on returning Algerians to Algeria takes account of objective country information and advice from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The country information sources are listed in the bibliography of the Algerian country assessment, a copy of which is in the Library and on the Home Office website. The policy to remove failed asylum seekers to Algeria if they have no other basis of stay in the United Kingdom is in line with that of other European countries.

Assets (Confiscation)

Andrew Bennett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to take steps to confiscate the assets of serious criminals.

Bob Ainsworth: Last Thursday the House gave a First Reading to the Proceeds of Crime Bill, which sets out the Government's broad-based attack on those who seek to profit from the misery of others. I look forward to the views of my hon. Friend and other hon. Members when we debate the Second Reading of the Bill shortly.

Illegal Drugs

Nick Hawkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment the NCIS has made about the effects of the action in Afghanistan on the UK market for illegal drugs; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: NCIS has made no assessment but we are keeping the position under review.

Work Training and Job Kiosks

Phil Hope: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisons have work training and job kiosks; and what plans he has to extend these initiatives across the prison estate.

Beverley Hughes: Prisons provide prisoners with information from the Employment Service (ES) job-bank, by contacting ES Direct or by hard copies of vacancies sent/brought to prisons by ES staff working directly with the Prison Service. Information from the job-bank is obtained from the internet by Prison Service staff.
	We are considering piloting a number of stand-alone job point kiosks in selected prisons which prisoners can use to access this information directly. We are also considering piloting the ES work train databases within some prisons which have well developed job clubs or pre-release programmes run by prison staff or a voluntary sector partner (with a phone line to ES Direct). If the results look promising, we will consider a wider roll-out across the prison estate.

Palestinian Mandate Refugees

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Palestinian mandate refugees and their descendants are living in the United Kingdom; and if he will bring forward proposals to give them permanent refugee status.

Angela Eagle: Palestinians are or can be protected or assisted by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine refugees in the near east (UNRWA), which is another agency of the United Nations. They do not therefore fall under the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) mandate and are not recognised as mandate refugees. I understand there are no Palestinians therefore present in the United Kingdom as the result of an application made under the resettlement programme relating to mandate refugees.

Terrorists

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been arrested or detained for questioning and subsequently released without charge in connection with the terrorist events of 11 September; and if he will make a statement.

David Blunkett: holding answer 19 October 2001
	Following requests for information and assistance from the FBI six people were detained under the provisions of the Terrorism Act 2000. All were released without charge but one was immediately re-arrested under the terms of an extradition warrant. Since 11 September a further 17 people were detained under the provisions of the Act. All but one were released without charge.
	The police and security services continue to monitor and assess any potential terrorist suspects, including any who are already in custody for other offences.

Police Car Chases

David Rendel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers have been involved in crashes while taking part in car chases, over the latest year for which figures are available.

John Denham: holding answer 19 October 2001
	The latest figures available are for the 12 months from 1 April 2000 to 31 March 2001 and refer only to accidents involving police vehicles which were engaged in immediate/emergency response or pursuit at the time of the accident. During this period one officer was killed, 60 sustained serious injuries, and 1,018 were slightly injured. Figures are not held centrally on the number of police officers involved in emergency/pursuit accidents which did not result in a death or injury.

Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the hon. Member for Walsall, North will receive a reply to his letters of 8 August and 18 September, ref 13889/1.

Angela Eagle: holding answer 19 October 2001
	I wrote to my hon. Friend on 22 October. I am sorry for the delay in replying.

Police Numbers (London)

Richard Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the manpower level of police is in London; and if he will make a statement.

John Denham: The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that on 31 August the force had 25,514 officers. This is 636 more officers than in March 2001. In addition the force had 10,338 civilian support staff298 more than in March 2001.

Pakistani Nationals

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Pakistani nationals holding UK visas have been refused entry to the UK since 11 September; and how many of these were refused at (a) Heathrow, (b) Gatwick and (c) Manchester.

Angela Eagle: holding answer 18 October 2001
	I regret that the information requested is not currently published.

Motorcycle Nuisance

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what action his Department is taking to reduce motorcycle nuisance on estates and open spaces;
	(2)  what action he proposes to curb illegal use of motorcycles by children.

John Denham: In his speech to the Superintendents Association on 11 September my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary made it clear that untrained, unlicensed and uncontrolled off-road motorcyclists can create misery and danger in a public park or open space, and that action was needed.
	Where this is a particular problem, we would expect it to be covered within the local crime and disorder strategy. There are a number of existing powers which can be brought to bear. The antisocial behaviour order provides an important tool in respect of antisocial activity by particular individuals. Other measures include provisions in the Road Traffic Acts 1988 and 1991 and, as regards excessive and avoidable noise, in the Environment Protection Act 1990. Where appropriate, local authorities can consider enacting byelaws specifically to restrict the use of motorcycles on council estates and in open public spaces. Current research is looking at aspects of unlicensed driving and motorcycle riding, and we shall consider carefully any further measures it recommends to address the issues.

Asylum Seekers

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if asylum seekers arriving at Heathrow are informed of their entitlement to receive legal advice before being interviewed substantively; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: holding answer 19 July 2001
	Asylum seekers arriving at ports of entry are informed of the availability of legal advice by way of a form (IS97E), which also explains asylum procedures. Shortly after being identified as a person applying for asylum this form is served upon the applicant by an immigration officer.

Asylum Seekers

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers awaiting adjudication there are in prisons in Wales

Angela Eagle: The latest published information on the number of asylum seekers detained under Immigration Act 1988 powers relates to 30 June 2001. As at that date, 40 persons (to the nearest five) who were detained under Immigration Act powers in prisons in Wales are recorded as having claimed asylum at some point, all of which were being held at Her Majesty's prison Cardiff. My right hon. Friend Lord Rooker visited Her Majesty's prison Cardiff on 17 September 2001 when there were 21 detainees in the prison. Information on how many of these persons were awaiting adjudication on 30 June 2001 is not available and could be obtained only by examining individual case files at disproportionate cost.
	The temporary use of Her Majesty's prison Cardiff to hold immigration detainees will end by Christmas, with the other local prisons providing temporary places following suit by the end of January.

Asylum Seekers

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applicants for asylum, broken down by country of origin, have had their applications refused in the last four years; and how many are known (a) to have left the United Kingdom and (b) to have remained within the United Kingdom.

Angela Eagle: pursuant to the reply, 16 October 2001, c.1192W
	The total numbers of known removals in each of the last four years, excluding dependants, are given in the table:
	
		
			 Year Removed(11),(12) asylum seekers(13) 
		
		
			 1997 7,165 
			 1998 6,990 
			 1999 7,660 
			 2000 8,980 
		
	
	(11) Includes persons departing 'voluntarily' after enforcement action was initiated against them.
	(12) Figures are rounded to the nearest 5. Figure for 2000 is provisional.
	(13) Persons who had sought asylum at some point, excluding dependants. Includes persons leaving under the Voluntary Assisted Returns Programme.

Departmental Staff

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate the number of staff employed by his Department by region and nation of the UK; and if he will make a statement.

David Blunkett: I refer the hon. Member to the reply my hon. Friend, Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office gave on 15 October 2001, Official Report, column 1008W, which included a table showing the number of staff in the Home Office by region and nation of the United Kingdom.

Departmental Staff

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what proportion of each civil service grade in his Department is located in each region and nation of the UK, what the average salary is for each grade; and if he will make a statement.

David Blunkett: Information on Home Office staff by grade in each region and nation of the United Kingdom at 1 April 2000 is set out in the tables. Information on average salaries for the same date is not available.
	
		Table 1: Numbers and percentages of staff by grade level and region/nation as at 1 April 2000Home Office(14)
		
			  Number of staff by grade level and region (full-time equivalent)  
			  Government office region All grades SCS level Level 6/7 SEO/HEO level EO level AO/AA level Industrial/ other grades 
		
		
			 London 6,951.3 161.5 463.5 1,577.4 2,191.1 2,548.8 9 
			 South East 1,058 3 22.9 166.1 628.4 229.6 8 
			 South West 240.7 3 15.6 68.7 56.4 57.5 39.5 
			 West Midlands 686.5 1 57 169.8 204.4 250.3 4 
			 North West 336  27 94.3 134.5 75.2 5 
			 North East 51  2 8.1 29.8 10.1 1 
			 Merseyside 955.7  8.8 77.3 217.5 652.1  
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 350.7 3 22 127.8 83.2 111.7 3 
			 East Midlands 40 1 3 13 18 5  
			 Eastern 609.4 2 31.7 110.7 211.9 249.1 4 
			  
			 England total 11,279.3 174.5 653.5 2,413.2 3,775.2 4,189.4 73.5 
			 Wales 428.3  26.8 47.4 62.6 288.5 3 
			 Scotland 240.6 2 4 16 58.2 160.4  
			 Northern Ireland 132.3   5 20.4 106.9  
			  
			 Grand total(15) 12,080.5 176.5 684.3 2,481.6 3,916.4 4,745.2 76.5 
		
	
	
		
			  Percentage of staff by grade level and region  
			  Government office region All grades SCS level Level 6/7 SEO/HEO level EO level AO/AA level Industrial/ other grades 
		
		
			 London 57.5 91.5 67.7 63.6 55.9 53.7 11.8 
			 South East 8.8 1.7 3.3 6.7 16.0 4.8 10.5 
			 South West 2.0 1.7 2.3 2.8 1.4 1.2 51.6 
			 West Midlands 5.7 0.6 8.3 6.8 5.2 5.3 5.2 
			 North West 2.8 0.0 3.9 3.8 3.4 1.6 6.5 
			 North East 0.4 0.0 0.3 0.3 0.8 0.2 1.3 
			 Merseyside 7.9 0.0 1.3 3.1 5.6 13.7 0.0 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 2.9 1.7 3.2 5.1 2.1 2.4 3.9 
			 East Midlands 0.3 0.6 0.4 0.5 0.5 0.1 0.0 
			 Eastern 5.0 1.1 4.6 4.5 5.4 5.2 5.2 
			  
			 England total 93.4 98.9 95.5 97.2 96.4 88.3 96.1 
			 
			 Wales 3.5 0.0 3.9 1.9 1.6 6.1 3.9 
			 Scotland 2.0 1.1 0.6 0.6 1.5 3.4 0.0 
			 Northern Ireland 1.1 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.5 2.3 0.0 
			  
			 Grand total(15) 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 
		
	
	(14) Includes staff in UKPA, Forensic Science Service and Fire Service College
	(15) Excluded 426 seconded non-industrial civil servants whose data are not centrally recorded
	Note:
	Responsibility for Fire Service College transferred to DTLR as part of the machinery of Government changes in June 2001.
	
		Table 2: Numbers and percentages of staff by grade level and region/nation as at 1 April 2000Prison Service
		
			  Number of staff by grade level and region (full-time equivalent)  
			 Government office region All grades SCS level Level 6/7 SEO/HEO level EO level AO/AA level Industrial/ other grades 
		
		
			 London 6,319.4 42 254.9 652.8 687.5 4,472.8 209.4 
			 South East 6,417.1 9.2 87.1 239.1 564.7 5,092.8 424.2 
			 South West 3,234.6 3 45.1 107.3 317.6 2,488.9 272.7 
			 West Midlands 3,832.4 1 47.8 158.9 417.8 2,887.6 319.3 
			 North West 4,271.7 4 39.9 146.4 432.7 3,326.7 322 
			 North East 3,038.9  31.5 95.7 252.2 2,494.1 165.4 
			 Merseyside 784.5 1 6 22 62 671.5 22 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 4,545.3 5 48.8 137.8 465.4 3,586.4 301.9 
			 East Midlands 3,494.2 3 49.6 157.8 399.6 2,607.7 276.5 
			 Eastern 3,746.0 5 46.5 134.9 375.3 2,904 280.3 
			  
			 England total 39,684.1 73.2 657.2 1,852.7 3,974.8 30,532.5 2,593.7 
			 Wales 753.2 1 14.5 24.3 61 587.4 65 
			 Scotland 1 1  
			 Northern Ireland 103  2 1 5 94 1 
			  
			 Grand total 40,541.3 74.2 673.7 1,878 4,040.8 31,214.9 2,659.7 
		
	
	
		
			  Percentage of staff by grade level and region  
			  Government office region All grades SCS level Level 6/7 SEO/HEO level EO level AO/AA level Industrial/ other grades 
		
		
			 London 15.6 56.6 37.8 34.8 17.0 14.3 7.9 
			 South East 15.8 12.4 12.9 12.7 14.0 16.3 15.9 
			 South West 8.0 4.0 6.7 5.7 7.9 8.0 10.3 
			 West Midlands 9.5 1.3 7.1 8.5 10.3 9.3 12.0 
			 North West 10.5 5.4 5.9 7.8 10.7 10.7 12.1 
			 North East 7.5 0.0 4.7 5.1 6.2 8.0 6.2 
			 Merseyside 1.9 1.3 0.9 1.2 1.5 2.2 0.8 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 11.2 6.7 7.2 7.3 11.5 11.5 11.4 
			 East Midlands 8.6 4.0 7.4 8.4 9.9 8.4 10.4 
			 Eastern 9.2 6.7 6.9 7.2 9.3 9.3 10.5 
			  
			 England total 97.9 98.7 97.6 98.7 98.4 97.8 97.5 
			 
			 Wales 1.9 1.3 2.2 1.3 1.5 1.9 2.4 
			 Scotland 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
			 Northern Ireland 0.3 0.0 0.3 0.1 0.1 0.3 0.0 
			  
			 Grand total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 
		
	
	
		Table 3: Numbers and percentages of staff by grade level and region/nation as at 1 April 2000Totals
		
			  Number of staff by grade level and region (full-time equivalent)  
			 Government office region All grades SCS level Level 6/7 SEO/HEO level EO level AO/AA level Industrial/ other grades 
		
		
			 London 13,270.7 203.5 718.4 2,230.2 2,878.6 7,021.6 218.4 
			 South East 7,475.1 12.2 110 405.2 1,193.1 5,322.4 432.2 
			 South West 3,475.3 6 60.7 176 374 2,546.4 312.2 
			 West Midlands 4,518.9 2 104.8 328.7 622.7 3,137.9 323.3 
			 North West 4,607.7 4 66.9 240.7 567.2 3,401.9 327 
			 North East 3,089.9 0 33.5 103.8 282 2,504.2 166.2 
			 Merseyside 1,740.2 1 14.8 99.3 279.5 1,323.6 22 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 4,896 8 70.8 265.6 548.6 3,698.1 304.9 
			 East Midlands 3,534.2 4 52.6 170.8 417.6 2,612.7 276.5 
			 Eastern 4,355.4 7 78.2 245.6 587.2 3,153.1 284.3 
			  
			 England total 50,963.4 247.7 1,310.7 4,265.9 7,750 34,721.9 2,667.2 
			 
			 Wales 1,181.5 1 41.3 71.7 123.6 875.9 68 
			 Scotland 241.6 2 4 16 58.2 161.4 0 
			 Northern Ireland 235.3 0 2 6 25.4 200.9 1 
			  
			 Grand total 52,621.8 250.7 1,358 4,359.6 7,957.2 35,960.1 2,736.2 
			 
			 Home office overseas staff 31.6 1  22 8.6   
		
	
	
		
			  Percentage of staff by grade level and region  
			 Government office region All grades SCS level Level 6/7 SEO/HEO level EO level AO/AA level Industrial/ other grades 
		
		
			 London 25.2 81.2 52.9 51.2 36.2 19.5 8.0 
			 South East 14.2 4.9 8.1 9.3 15.0 14.8 15.8 
			 South West 6.6 2.4 4.5 4.0 4.7 7.1 11.4 
			 West Midlands 8.6 0.8 7.7 7.5 7.8 8.7 11.8 
			 North West 8.8 1.6 4.9 5.5 7.1 9.5 12.0 
			 North East 5.9 0.0 2.5 2.4 3.5 7.0 6.1 
			 Merseyside 3.3 0.4 1.1 2.3 3.5 3.7 0.8 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 9.3 3.2 5.2 6.1 6.9 10.3 11.1 
			 East Midlands 6.7 1.6 3.9 3.9 5.2 7.3 10.1 
			 Eastern 8.3 2.8 5.8 5.6 7.4 8.8 10.4 
			  
			 England total 96.8 98.8 96.5 97.9 97.4 96.6 97.5 
			 
			 Wales 2.2 0.4 3.0 1.6 1.6 2.4 2.5 
			 Scotland 0.5 0.8 0.3 0.4 0.7 0.4 0.0 
			 Northern Ireland 0.4 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.3 0.6 0.0 
			  
			 Grand total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 
			 
			 Home office overseas staff

Airline Passengers

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many passengers who have been detained by immigration officers at British airports since 11 September, have been detained for longer than 24 hours; how many remain in British custody; how many remain in the UK; how many have been returned to their country of origin or a third country; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many passengers have been refused entry at British airports and sent back to their country of origin or a third country within 24 hours, since 11 September; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: I regret that the information requested is not available.

Tenancy Agreements

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues on redefining tenancy agreements to ensure antisocial tenants can be evicted promptly.

John Denham: The Minister of State at the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, who has policy responsibility in this areamy noble Friend Lord Falconerrecently met with my hon. Friend and the Leader of Nottingham city council to discuss concerns over the time it can take a social landlord to evict antisocial tenants. To follow up this meeting officials at the DTLR are exploring ways in which the eviction process might be speeded up in cases of serious or persistent antisocial behaviour. As part of this they will be discussing possible approaches with local authorities, including Nottingham city council.

Child Abduction

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have taken place in respect of cases of child abduction in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement.

John Denham: The information requested, taken from the Home Office Court Proceedings Database, is shown in the following table:
	
		Persons proceeded against for offences of child abduction(16), England and Wales
		
			 Year  Number 
		
		
			 1995 98 
			 1996 89 
			 1997 77 
			 1998 104 
			 1999 111 
		
	
	(16) Child Abduction Act 1984 sections 1 and 2, as amended by the Children Act 1989
	Data for 2000 are not yet available.

Home Detention Curfew Scheme

Ann Widdecombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list, for the period between the commencement of the home detention curfew scheme and 30 June inclusive (a) the number of prisoners released on the scheme, (b) the number of prisoners convicted of each offence who were released on the scheme, with a breakdown of the offences committed, including offences committed by prisoners normally classified under the categories (i) other homicide and attempted homicide, (ii) other violence against the person, (iii) drug offences, (iv) assaults and (v) other offences, including a breakdown of the prisoners normally classified in the sub-category of other offences called other offences, (c) the average sentence (A) received and (B) served, and the average period spent on the scheme, in respect of each offence, (d) the number of prisoners released on the scheme, with a breakdown of the offences committed, who (1) breached the conditions of the curfew, (2) disappeared and were recaptured, (3) disappeared and remain unlawfully at large and (4) had their licences revoked with reasons, (e) the specific offences committed by prisoners released on the scheme while on the scheme, including offences committed, by prisoners who committed more than one offence and (f) the specific offences committed by prisoners released on the scheme who committed a further offence while on the scheme that was similar in character to that for which they were originally convicted, including offences committed by prisoners who committed more than one offence; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: The information requested for the period up to 30 June 2001 is set out in tables which can be found in the Library. As of that date, a total of 37,105 prisoners had been placed on home detention curfew since the scheme commenced on 28 January 1999.
	Table 1 shows the original offences committed by prisoners released under the scheme during the period, the number of prisoners convicted of each specific offence, the average sentence received and served for those offences, and the average period spent on the scheme in respect of prisoners convicted of each specific offence. The data are taken from the Prison Service's Inmate Information System, based on the data recorded by each prison. The table provides as detailed a breakdown as is possible from central records.
	As at 30 June, a total of 1,249 prisoners placed on the scheme had breached the conditions of their curfew. A breakdown of this number showing the original offences committed by those curfewees is shown in Table 2.
	Information on curfewees whose licences are revoked and who disappear before being recaptured is not held centrally. However, information is held on the number of curfewees unlawfully at large at any one time. On 30 June there were 77 curfewees who remained unlawfully at large. This represents less than 4.3 per cent. of the total number of revocations.
	Details of the offences committed by those 77 curfewees who remained unlawfully at large on 30 June 2001 can be found in Table 3.
	As at 30 June 2001, 1,801 curfewees had their licences revoked, using the powers available to the Secretary of State under sections 38A(1) and 39 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991. The reasons for revocation were as follows: breach of the curfew (section 38A(1)(a) of the Criminal Justice Act 1991); the curfewee's whereabouts could no longer be electronically monitored (section 38A(1)(b) of the Criminal Justice Act 1991); it was necessary to protect the public from serious harm (section 38A(1)(c) of the Criminal Justice Act 1991); the curfewee had committed an offence or breached any other requirement of probation supervision (section 39 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991). Curfewees who are charged with a new offence may also be recalled on any of the preceding grounds depending upon the circumstances of the case.
	Prisoners whose current sentence is in respect of an offence committed before 1 January 1999 are not liable to be recalled under section 39 of the Act. In such cases, where the curfewee has breached the requirements of probation supervision or where they have committed a further offence and it has not been possible to revoke their licence under section 38A of the Act, the breach may be referred to the courts under section 38(1) of the Act. The total number of such cases referred to the courts is not held centrally.
	A breakdown of the original offences committed by the 1,801 recalled curfewees, together with a breakdown of the reasons for their recall is at Table 4.
	Table 5 gives a breakdown of the cases where a prisoner placed on home detention curfew is known to have been convicted, cautioned in respect of an offence committed while on home detention curfew, or where a prisoner is known to be pending prosecution for such an offence. Where a curfewee has been charged with more than one offence, these have been shown separately.
	Table 6 gives a breakdown of cases involving prisoners placed on the scheme who are known to have been convicted, cautioned or have a prosecution pending in respect of an offence committed while on home detention curfew which is similar in character to the index offence or offences for which they were originally convicted.
	The scheme is designed to ensure a better transition for short term offenders between custody and the community. Prisoners are only placed on home detention curfew after a careful risk assessment and the safety of the public is paramount at all times.

Street Robberies

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he intends implementing to combat the rise in street robberies in the year ending March 2001.

John Denham: We remain determined to reduce the number of robberies, and have set a challenging target of a 14 per cent. reduction in robbery in our principal cities by March 2005. The rate of increase in recorded robbery fell from 26 per cent. to 13 per cent. in the 12 months to March 2001. The five metropolitan forces have been set individual robbery reduction targets under the best value framework, and have been given an additional 20 million specifically to assist their efforts in tackling robbery and to enhance those targets. Almost three-quarters of all robberies are committed in these five metropolitan areas.
	The additional funds have enabled those forces to introduce a number of new initiatives and to reinforce good practice. These include the targeting of hotspots (including transport routes) and offenders based on better intelligence, higher visibility of uniformed officers on the street, mobile closed circuit television vans, a range of publicity measures, improved recording, scene of crime management, investigation and identification techniques; youth diversion measures, the creation of safe routes into city centres, and targeted anti-mobile phone theft campaigns.
	We are also working at a national level with the mobile phone industry to tackle mobile phone theft, which accounts for a significant proportion of robberies. In July we published a crime prevention leaflet distributed via police forces and retail outlets, and we are continuing to press the industry to enhance the security of their products and services.

Youth Offenders

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children aged under 18 years were received into prison custody on remand and under sentence between (a) April 1999 and April 2000 and (b) April 2000 and April 2001.

Beverley Hughes: The information is as follows:
	
		Initial receptions into prison service establishments(18) in England and Wales of persons under the age of 18 years
		
			 Type of reception(17) April 1999 to March 2000 April 2000 to March 2001 
		
		
			 Untried 4,984 4,134 
			 Convicted unsentenced 2,883 2,464 
			 Sentenced 5,511 5,871 
		
	
	(17) Initial receptions only; each prisoner is only counted once under their initial custody type.
	(18) The Prison Service holds most under 18s in young offender institutions or in specialist accommodation for that age range.

Youth Offenders

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in each month since the introduction of the detention and training order on 1 April 2000 how many young people have received orders of (a) four months, (b)  six months, (c) eight months, (d) 10 months, (e) 12 months, (f) 18 months and (g) 24 months broken down by age and gender.

Angela Eagle: Statistics on court proceedings and sentencing in 2000 are due for publication on 1 November. I will write to my hon. Friend at that time.

Asylum and Economic Migration

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions he has had on seeking an internationally recognised redefinition of asylum and economic migration; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: Within the European Union, discussions are in hand on a package of measures designed to set out shared minimum standards on asylum procedures and processes. A proposal for a Council Directive on qualification as a refugee is expected to be presented by the European Commission very shortly. The United Kingdom has participated actively in European discussions on all asylum issues, opting into all the measures presented to date, and will continue to do so.
	Economic migration is similarly the subject of on-going discussions at a Community levelmost recently at this week's European Conference on Migration held in Brusselsin the context of the European Commission's communication on a Community immigration policy. This communication is concerned, among other things, with the management of labour migration. We have welcomed this communication, while noting that the United Kingdom's approach to specific proposals for legal instruments will be influenced by its Protocols to the Treaties.

Police Response Times

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce standards for response times from the police in answering telephone calls; and if he will make a statement.

John Denham: Responsibility for answering 999 calls is an operational matter and therefore the responsibility of the chief officers of the force concerned.
	The Government accept that this is an important issue for both the police and the public, and affects public confidence in the police service.

Football Banning Orders

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many football banning orders have been issued to date; and of those how many were in respect of individuals with no relevant previous criminal convictions.

John Denham: holding answer 15 October 2001
	The current number of extant football banning orders imposed by the courts is 716. All types of order, other than orders on complaint, were imposed following conviction of a football related offence as defined in schedule 1 of the Football Spectators Act 1989. All persons subject to orders on complaint have convictions for violence or public order offences, though not necessarily football related.
	
		Extant football banning orders (8 October 2001)data supplied by the Football Banning Orders Authority
		
			 Type of order Number 
		
		
			 Exclusion Orders (imposed under section 30 of the Public Order Act 1986) 53 
			 Restriction Orders (imposed under section 15 of the Football Spectators Act 1989) 31 
			 Domestic Football Banning Orders (imposed under Football (Offences and Disorder) Act 1999) 54 
			 International Football Banning Orders (imposed under Football (Offences and Disorder) Act 1999) 51 
			 Orders on Conviction (imposed under section 14A of the Football Spectators Act 1989as amended by the Football (Disorder) Act 2000) 444 
			 Orders on Complaint (imposed under section 14B of the Football Spectators Act 1989as amended by the Football (Disorder) Act 2000) 83 
			  
			 Total 716

Child Curfew Orders

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many child curfew orders have been applied for and issued in the north-west;
	(2)  how many child curfew orders have been applied for and issued in Wales.

John Denham: No applications have yet been received to establish local child curfew schemes under section 14 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. Sections 48 and 49 of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001, which took effect on 1 August 2001, have recently extended the upper age limit to 15 and allowed the police, as well as local authorities, to initiate schemes.

Porton Down

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the cost to date of the inquiry by the Wiltshire Constabulary into events at CBD Porton Down; what proportion has been financed directly by his Department; what progress has been made; and if he will make a statement.

John Denham: The cost of the inquiry was 1,333,930 as at the end of September 2001, excluding costs to the Ministry of Defence. The Home Office, in recognition of the unique and extraordinary nature of the inquiry, made a grant of 870,000.
	A full inquiry has now been carried out into the death of an individual during an experiment in 1953, resulting in a report being forwarded to Her Majesty's coroner for Swindon and the county of Wiltshire. The coroner has since made recommendations to the Attorney-General.
	Following a thorough investigation into the circumstances relating to a number of allegations made by volunteers who attended Porton Down and participated in experiments, between 1939 and 1989, a number of reports have now been forwarded to the Crown Prosecution Service. Investigations into other allegations continue and further files will be submitted in due course.

Crown Court Trials

Peter Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of all either-way cases where defendants elected for Crown court trial (a) were rejected by the judge before plea, (b) involved a guilty plea and involved a sentence, (c) involved a guilty plea but were dismissed without completing trial, (d) resulted in a guilty verdict by the jury and (e) resulted in a verdict of not guilty.

John Denham: The Home Office court proceedings database does not identify either-way cases where: (a) defendants who elect for Crown court trial are rejected by the judge before plea.
	Information from the Home Office court proceedings database shows that for England and Wales 1999, (b) the defendant pleaded guilty and was sentenced in 62 per cent. of either-way cases tried at the Crown court; (c) in a negligible percentage of cases the defendant pleaded guilty, but was not tried; (d) in 13 per cent. the defendant was found guilty by a jury after pleading not guilty; and (e) in 23 per cent. of cases the defendant was acquitted by a jury.
	The remaining 3 per cent. of defendants were not tried.

Departmental Properties

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number, value and location of properties newly leased in each of the last five years by his Department, broken down by leases by the Department itself, its next step agencies and its non-departmental public bodies, differentiating between purchases made as a result of the creation of new bodies and those purchases made by established bodies.

David Blunkett: The Home Office, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) have acquired a total of 102 properties by lease since 1 April 1996.
	The detail relating to the acquisitions is set out in the tables. It excludes both properties acquired on a short- term basis by licence and residential accommodation taken to accommodate staff members. The properties were acquired for the main Department or established bodies except where indicated.
	
		Summary table of properties newly leased by the Home Office -- from 1 April 1996 to 31 March 2001
		
			  Number of properties acquired Total value of properties () 
		
		
			 Main Department   
			 199697 8 859,150 
			 199798 6 522,026 
			 199899 4 500,549 
			 19992000 14 2,181,890 
			 200001 34 9,901,708 
			  
			 Total 66 13,965,323 
			   
			 Agencies   
			 199697 2 1,284,000 
			 199798 3 106,000 
			 199899 7 316,501 
			 19992000 10 3,307,147 
			 200001 2 31,850 
			  
			 Total 24 5,045,498 
			
			 NDPBs   
			 199697 1 69,050 
			 199798 1 119,696 
			 199899 4 20,100,618 
			 19992000 3 616,905 
			 200001 3 427,401 
			  
			 Total 12 21,333,670 
			
			 Total   
			 199697 11 2,212,200 
			 199798 10 747,722 
			 199899 15 20,917,668 
			 19992000 27 6,105,942 
			 2000101 39 10,360,959 
			  
			 Total 102 40,344,491 
		
	
	
		Properties newly leased by the Home Office in 199697
		
			 Location Number Value () 
		
		
			 Main Department   
			 Stanstead 1 63,959 
			 Heathrow 2 654,346 
			 Darlington 1 5,025 
			 Dover 1 31,700 
			 Dundee 1 58,900 
			 Plymouth 1 18,493 
			 Watford 1 26,730 
			  
			 Total 8 859,150 
			
			 Agencies   
			 London 1 1,266,000 
			 Reading 1 18,000 
			  
			 Total 2 1,284,000 
			
			 NDPBs   
			 Birmingham 1 69,050 
			  
			 Total 1 69,050 
		
	
	Note:
	The property purchased by the NDPB was for a new body
	
		Properties newly leased by the Home Office in 199798
		
			 Location Number Value () 
		
		
			 Main Department   
			 Cambridge 1 9,150 
			 Solihull 1 119,472 
			 Heathrow 2 113,529 
			 Liverpool 1 121,500 
			 London 1 158,375 
			  
			 Total 6 522,026 
			 Agencies   
			 Birmingham 1 48,000 
			 Liverpool 2 58,000 
			  
			 Total 3 106,000 
			   
			 NDPBs   
			 Glasgow 1 119,696 
			  
			 Total 1 119,696 
		
	
	
		Properties newly leased by the Home Office in 199899
		
			 Location Number Value () 
		
		
			 Main Department   
			 Bootle 1 311,500 
			 Manchester 1 46,570 
			 London 1 32,966 
			 Glasgow 1 109,513 
			  
			 Total 4 500,549 
			
			 Agencies   
			 Birmingham 1 276,000 
			 Manchester 2 40,501 
			 Liverpool 1 12,000 
			 Belfast 2 76,575 
			 West Bromwich 1 21,000 
			  
			 Total 7 316,501 
			
			 NDPBs   
			 Onley 1 6,122,608 
			 Birmingham 1 222,435 
			 Durham 1 6,126,603 
			 Rochester 1 7,628,972 
			  
			 Total 4 20,100,618 
		
	
	Note:
	The NDPB properties at Onley, Durham and Birmingham were acquired for new bodies
	
		Properties newly leased by the Home Office in 19992000
		
			 Location Number Value () 
		
		
			 Main Department   
			 Manchester 1 44,930 
			 Leicester 1 4,500 
			 Liverpool 4 309,343 
			 Gatwick 1 235,624 
			 Croydon 5 1,327,306 
			 Heathrow 1 251,992 
			 Bristol 1 8,195 
			  
			 Total 14 2,181,890 
			
			 Agencies   
			 Croydon 1 319,530 
			 Birmingham 5 1,255,967 
			 Peterborough 2 116,150 
			 London 1 1,607,000 
			 Evesham 1 8,500 
			  
			 Total 10 3,307,147 
			
			 NDPBs   
			 London 2 533,480 
			 Birmingham 1 83,425 
			  
			 Total 3 616,905 
		
	
	Note:
	Two NDPBs properties were acquired for new bodies at a total cost of 368,425
	
		Properties newly leased by the Home Office in 200001
		
			 Location Number Value () 
		
		
			 Main Department   
			 Heathrow 2 437,224 
			 Gatwick 3 101,698 
			 Immingham 2 11,125 
			 Croydon 5 2,082,242 
			 Yeadon 1 20,344 
			 Leeds 2 601,903 
			 Southend 1 6,231 
			 Hounslow 1 770,000 
			 Birmingham 1 1,500,000 
			 Bedford 1 405,000 
			 Manchester 1 15,100 
			 Rugby 1 3,732 
			 Ch. Norton 1 1,957,500 
			 Glasgow 1 59,996 
			 Hayes 1 577,367 
			 Feltham 1 300,000 
			 London 2 539,050 
			 Exeter 1 1,300 
			 Dover 2 96,539 
			 Crawley 1 117,930 
			 Leicester 1 12,000 
			 Southampton 1 60,430 
			 Liverpool 1 225,000 
			  
			 Total 34 9,901,708 
			
			 Agencies   
			 Warrington 1 26,250 
			 Doncaster 1 5,600 
			  
			 Total 2 31,850 
			
			 NDPBs   
			 London 1 39,813 
			 Liverpool 1 304,512 
			 Birmingham 1 83,076 
			  
			 Total 3 427,401 
		
	
	Note:
	The three properties purchased by NDPBs were for new bodies

Animal Research

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many incidents have been reported in each of the last five years of (a) assaults and (b) harassment against scientists and institutions involved in animal research.

John Denham: The crime statistics do not distinguish between the occupations of victims, but there is no doubt that animal rights extremists have been increasingly ready to resort to criminal methods in recent years, and as a Government we are determined to take all possible steps to protect those engaged in legitimate scientific research.

Passport Office

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many passports were lost by the Passport Office in each of the last five years.

Angela Eagle: The United Kingdom Passport Service issues more than 5 million passports each year, the majority of which are issued via first class post.
	The only records the UK Passport Service holds relating to lost passports are those for passports reported to be lost, stolen or unavailable and for those which have been recorded as missing in the post. These figures are given:
	
		
			 Year  Lost, stolen or unavailable(19) Lost in post(19) 
		
		
			 1997 31,550 (20) 
			 1998 31,497 (20) 
			 1999 62,775 2,359 
			 2000 114,624 3,851 
			 2001(21) (22)36,328 (23)1,474 
		
	
	(19) All figures are for calendar year except where otherwise stated
	(20) Not available
	(21) Figures are from April to September 2001
	(22) To May 2001
	(23) To September 2001

Ouseley Report

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the findings of Sir Herman Ouseley's report on the impact of segregated schools on the riots in Bradford.

John Denham: Lord Ouseley's report was commissioned and prepared for Bradford Vision, a partnership involving local government, police and other agencies. The Public Order Community Cohesion Ministerial Group, which my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary set up following the disturbances earlier this summer in the north-west, is looking at the wider issues of segregation, including education. My colleagues in the Department for Education and Skills are contributing to the group's work. The group will be taking full account of Lord Ouseley's observations on this issue in Bradford. I would not wish to anticipate the outcome of their findings at this stage.

TRANSPORT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE REGIONS

Departmental Staff

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  who communicated to Mr. Alun Evans the decision to move him from his duties; and when this was done;
	(2)  what representations have been made by Alun Evans' trade union about the circumstance surrounding the decision to remove him from his duties;
	(3)  if he will reinstate Alun Evans to his duties as Director of Communications of his Department;
	(4)  if Miss Jo Moore's contract as special adviser at his Department was her only employment contract as at 1 October;
	(5)  when Sir Richard Mottram was informed of the Secretary of State's verbal reprimand of Jo Moore, special adviser;
	(6)  what the division of responsibility and powers is between himself and the Permanent Secretary to move staff and vary duties within his Department;
	(7)  who, in addition to Alun Evans, Director of Information at his Department, received the recently published e-mail from Miss Jo Moore of 11 September;
	(8)  for what reason and at whose request Alun Evans, Director of Communication at his Department, was moved from his duties;
	(9)  who took the decision to move Alun Evans, Director of Communication at his Department, from his duties; and who had previously been consulted prior to the decision;
	(10)  what information Miss Jo Moore requested Alun Evans, Director of Communications at the Department of Transport, to release to the media during (a) July, (b) August and (c) September about (i) Bob Kiley, London Transport Commissioner and (ii) the manner in which the report of London Underground commissioned by Parsons Brinckerhoff had been prepared and drafted; and if he will make a statement;
	(11)  what the salary is of Alun Evans, until recently Director of Communications at his Department;
	(12)  what the salary of his adviser Miss Jo Moore is; and what are the contractual hours worked;
	(13)  what duties Alun Evans, the former Director of Communication at his Department, will fulfil on 17 October.

Stephen Byers: holding answer 17 October 2001
	The Permanent Secretary is responsible to me for ensuring that the Department is effectively and efficiently organised and staffed. He does so within the framework of the rules governing civil service recruitment and promotion. The Permanent Secretary is responsible for discussing with senior staff their career development and timing of moves from one appointment to another. No representations have been made by any trade union in connection with Mr. Evans's move.
	When Mr. Evans took up appointment as Director of Communication it was envisaged that he would move back into policy work in the civil service in due course. This he has now done. He has taken up post, working with Dr. Iain Anderson as head of the secretariat on his inquiry into the foot and mouth outbreak.
	Ms Moore had asked an information officer to make the media aware that there was a document which showed that one of Mr. Kiley's assistants had proposed changes to a draft report by consultants, Parsons Brinckerhoff, about controlling standards of workmanship and safety-related activities of infrastructure companies under the anticipated London Underground Public Private Partnership (PPP) contracts. The proposed changes were intended to make the report more critical of the PPP. The Department did not in the event release the document.
	My noble and learned Friend the Minister for housing, planning and regeneration drew attention to this document in answer to a question on 24 July 2001, Official Report, House of Lords, columns 184548.
	Salaries of Board members were published in the 19992000 Resource Accounts of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (Cm 5054), a copy of which is in the Library.
	I informed the Permanent Secretary of my personal reprimand on 9 October. Under the Department's disciplinary procedures the Permanent Secretary has given Ms Moore an official warning as to her conduct. She has made a statement in which she has accepted responsibility for her actions and offered a sincere apology.
	Ms Moore works 26 hours a week as a special adviser. This is currently her only contract of employment. It is the Government's policy that details of individual salaries for special advisers should remain confidential.
	Ms Moore's e-mail of 11 September was originally addressed to Alun Evans and Robin Mortimer and copied to Dan Corry.

Railtrack

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the role of Jo Moore in the decision to apply for an administration order under section 59 of the Railways Act 1993.

Stephen Byers: holding answer 18 October 2001
	Ms Moore played the normal role of a special adviser.

Railtrack

Archie Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he has appointed headhunters to advise on future appointments to the successor body to Railtrack.

David Jamieson: No.

Railtrack

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what contacts he has authorised between his special advisers and the media since 7 June in relation to Railtrack.

Stephen Byers: Special advisers contact the media as necessary on issues across the range of the Department's responsibilities.

Railtrack

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what new proposals he intends to make for the operation of the (a) Strategic Rail Authority and (b) Rail Regulator following the decision to place the subsidiary of Railtrack into administration.

David Jamieson: holding answer 18 October 2001
	I refer my hon. Friend to the statement made to the House by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 15 October 2001, Official Report, column 954.

Railtrack

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what meetings he held with Ernst and Young to discuss whether Railtrack plc should be put into administration; and when these meetings were held.

David Jamieson: holding answer 18 October 2001
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions held no such meetings.

Railtrack

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how much financial support will be made available to the successor company to Railtrack; and how much the Government expected to pay to Railtrack in 200001 and 200102 for similar purposes.

David Jamieson: The Government have proposed a private sector company limited by guarantee to succeed Railtrack and intend to agree a transfer scheme with the railway administrators.
	In 200001 some 85 per cent. of Railtrack's 2,476 million income was paid to it in access charges by train operating companies, which were paid 1,130 million in revenue support grants from the Strategic Rail Authority and Passenger Transport Executives (PTEs). In 200102 Railtrack continued to receive indirect support via track access charges. In addition, on 1 October it received 337 million in direct grant payment from the SRA, and will receive a further 162 million in direct grant when requested by the administrators.
	The direct network grant payments over the next five years, as determined by the Rail Regulator's October 2000 Periodic Review and the 2 April agreement between Government and Railtrack, will be transferred to Railtrack's successor body on emergence from administration.

Railtrack

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on how the successor company to Railtrack will be accountable to (a) him and (b) other Government agencies.

David Jamieson: The Government's proposal is for the successor company to be a private sector company limited by guarantee. Such a company would not be accountable to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions.

Railtrack

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how much capital will be made available to the successor company to Railtrack to enable it to acquire Railtrack's assets from the administrators.

David Jamieson: holding answer 18 October 2001
	The Government have proposed a private sector company limited by guarantee to succeed Railtrack and intend to agree a transfer scheme with the railway administrators. We plan to structure this new company so that it would achieve at least a BBB investment grade credit rating.

Transport Council

Jimmy Hood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the outcome was of the Transport Council held in Brussels on 16 October; what the Government's stance was on each issue discussed, including its voting record; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Byers: The Transport Council met in Luxembourg on 16 October. I represented the United Kingdom, together with my right hon. Friend the Minister for Transport.
	This meeting of the Council was mainly focused on aviation issues, following the special session of the Transport Council on 14 September, which I attended. In addition, the special European Council of 21 September had called on this Council to adopt measures in the field of aviation security. I am very pleased that the Council succeeded in doing this. The Council put in hand preparations for Community-wide measures to enhance aviation security.
	The Commission presented a draft regulation establishing a framework of aviation security measures and inspection arrangements. The Presidency reported on the work of the ad hoc group set up by the special Transport Council, which will examine further the scope for additional measures in areas such as crew training; checking and monitoring of hold luggage; securing cockpits; sky marshals; use of video cameras, and quality control of security measures. The Council also discussed alignment of security measures with those adopted by the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC), and the need for the issues to be further pursued at the global level by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
	The Council agreed conclusions, following a debate on the economic consequences for the aviation industry of the 11 September attacks, on the basis of a Communication from the Commission. The conclusions recognise that application of the Community's state aid rules is the Commission's exclusive competence, and noted the limited range of financial assistance the Commission would approve. This would include compensation for losses directly attributable to the closure of airspace in the four days following 11 September, insurance guarantees for war-related third party risk where the market has failed, and possible assistance with the costs of enhanced security measures. The conclusions called on the Commission to take a position on slot flexibility before the next winter season, and welcomed the Commission's intention to open a dialogue with the US on a code of conduct on unfair competition. On insurance guarantees the conclusions called for monthly reviews with a final cut-off date of 31 December this year.
	I joined several Ministers in supporting the Commission's proposals. I also emphasised the importance of the EU airline industry restructuring itself, and circulated a paper calling for member states and the Commission to try to prevent ownership and control clauses in bilateral air service agreements being an obstacle to airline consolidation.
	The Commission presented its proposals for the Single European Sky, aimed at improving co-ordination of air traffic management across the EU and reducing delays through better use of airspace. This is an initiative which the UK supports and we look forward to seeing progress on it in the coming months.
	The Presidency reported on recent developments at the ICAO General Assembly in Montreal. The results on aircraft noise were generally welcomed. Council conclusions noted that Council would give priority to adopting a replacement to the current 'hushkits' Regulation in the near future.
	A common position was reached on proposals to establish a European Aviation Safety Agency. There were progress reports on proposals for occurrence reporting in civil aviation and on cabin crew training, which were remitted back to COREPER for further work.
	The Council noted the progress report on the ERIKA 1 and two packages of proposals on maritime safety and related measures. The outcome of the packages is now satisfactory from our point of view, and I am pleased that a number of the issues have been taken forward by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). We look forward, subject to clarification on some points, to a decision in December on establishment of a European Maritime Safety Agency.
	At a debate over lunch on the Galileo global navigation satellite system, the Minister for Transport set out the UK's concerns over the proposed Joint Undertaking management structure. When the Council resumed, the Presidency reported that COREPER would be continuing work on three main areas, with a view to a decision on proceeding with the project at the December Council. The areas of work are: arrangements for private sector involvement, in particular the need to avoid conflicts of interest; the best way of involving member states, with emphasis on the roles of a supervisory board and management committee; and involvement of the European Space Agency.
	The Commission confirmed that a full revision of the transport Trans European Networks (TENs) guidelines would be undertaken in 2004. An interim revision will boost Community support to 20 per cent. for major rail infrastructure projects and cross-border bottlenecks on frontiers of candidate countries.
	The Commission gave a brief presentation on its recent White Paper on the common transport policy. The Presidency said that it would aim for a Council Resolution on the White Paper in December.
	My right hon. Friend the Minister for Transport was one of several Ministers who raised continuing concerns about the technical specification for digital tachographs. The Commission stated that adoption in December remained its goal.
	There was a progress report on the proposal to extend the requirement to fit vehicle speed limiters to a wider range of vehicles. With a view to political agreement in December, COREPER will be continuing work on the proposal, seeking solutions on the scope of the proposal and the issue of retrofitting, on both of which the UK and some other member states have expressed concerns.
	There was also a progress report on the proposal on training of professional drivers. Work on this will continue, with a view to the Council reaching agreement on it in December.
	No votes were taken at this Council.

Councillor Expenses

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the timing of the publication of the DTLR document on councillor expenses on 12 September.

Stephen Byers: holding answer 19 October 2001
	As with any announcement, a range of publication dates were considered. The actual publication date for these documents, 12 September, was as planned from the week before.

Councillor Expenses

Tim Collins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  if he discussed the timing of announcements on councillors' expenses with the Minister for local government and the regions on (a) 11 and (b) 12 September;
	(2)  what conversations he has had with the Minister for local government and the regions regarding the latter's press release dated 12 September relating to councillors' expenses.

Stephen Byers: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I have given today to the hon. Member for Maidenhead (Mrs. May) (PQ 9140).

Jo Moore

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will place in the Library copies of e-mail correspondence between Jo Moore and officials in his Department relating to news which they wanted to bury subsequent to the attacks on the World Trade Centre; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Byers: The Department acted according to the planned timetable of announcements.

Channel Tunnel Rail Link

Archie Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what advice he has received regarding the financial viability of the next phase of the channel tunnel rail link between Ebbsfleet and King's Cross.

David Jamieson: London and Continental Railways Ltd. is responsible for financing and construction of section 2 of the CTRL. As announced on 2 July of this year, construction has started and is expected to be completed in 2007. London and Continental Railways has a viable financing structure plan for section 2 which includes raising 1.1 billion of Government Guaranteed Bonds to help finance construction.

Transport White Paper

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the Government's response to the recent EU Transport White Paper.

David Jamieson: The European Commission published its White Paper European Transport Policy for 2010: Time to Decide on 12 September 2001. The White Paper itself has no legislative or executive force at this stage but it indicates areas where the Commission intends to initiate action over the next few years.

Mayors

Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions why Westminster city council has been selected for a survey on public attitudes to directly elected mayors.

Alan Whitehead: The research was conducted in a number of locations which varied in size, which had different authority types, and which are likely to be opting for different forms of new constitutions. This was to provide a broad range of different situations to inform the survey's conclusions. The Department chose some authorities that have held or will be holding a referendum on directly elected mayors, others that intend to adopt a leader and cabinet form of executive and others who had yet to decide their preference. In addition, the Department wanted a wide geographical spread of locations to be surveyed. Based on those criteria, Westminster was a suitable candidate to be surveyed. Members of the public have also been surveyed in Birmingham, Bristol, Liverpool, Harrow, Middlesbrough, Preston, Plymouth, Oxford and Derby. The Department will publish the results of the research in due course.

Discretionary Services

Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  if he will work with the Local Government Association in identifying discretionary services for which the Government would be prepared to give local authorities the freedom to charge; what services are under consideration; when a decision on the services affected will be made; and what reference to these proposals will be made in a White Paper;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on his plans to introduce a general power to charge for discretionary services by local authorities.

Alan Whitehead: In the Green Paper Modernising Local Government Finance (September 2000) we stated our intention to legislate to enable authorities to charge for discretionary services, including those provided under the Local Government Act 2000 to promote the well being of their areas. We are working with the Local Government Association in determining the scope of this new freedom to charge. The forthcoming Local Government White Paper will set out how this will be taken forward.

Bus Drivers

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to introduce legislation to bring the working conditions of bus drivers into line with conditions for HGV and coach drivers.

Sally Keeble: We plan to implement EU Directive 200034, adopted last year, by 1 August 2003. As a result, all drivers in the road transport sector will be entitled to a 48 hour average working week, four weeks paid annual leave and annual health checks for night and shift workers. Drivers who wish to work longer average hours may do so, by signing an individual opt out.
	We announced in the White Paper on integrated transport that we would consult on repeal of the UK drivers' hours rulesunder which most bus drivers operatein favour of the European Union rules. This consultation has subsequently been delayed by discussions, still continuing, on another draft EU Directive on working time in road transport.

Bus Drivers

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will extend the proposed European Working Time Directive to local bus drivers; and if he will make a statement.

Sally Keeble: This proposal would of course require an amendment to the current exemptions from the Working Time Directive. This would be a matter for all member states subject to qualified majority voting. The UK Government have no current plans to propose such an amendment. However, we announced in the White Paper on integrated transport that we would consult on repeal of the UK drivers' hours rulesunder which most bus drivers operatein favour of the European Union rules. This consultation has subsequently been delayed by discussions, still continuing, on another draft EU Directive on working time in road transport.

Working Time Directive

Helen Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will amend the exemption clauses of the Working Time Directive relating to urban bus drivers.

Sally Keeble: Any amendments to the exemptions from the Working Time Directive would be a matter for all member states under qualified majority voting. The UK Government have no current plans to propose such an amendment. However, we announced in the White Paper on integrated transport that we would consult on repeal of the UK drivers' hours rulesunder which most bus drivers operatein favour of the European Union rules. This consultation has subsequently been delayed by discussions, still continuing, on another draft EU Directive on working time in road transport.

Low Cost Housing

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what percentage of the proceeds of the disposal of former Commission for New Towns land is earmarked for rented and low cost housing.

Sally Keeble: The Commission for the New Towns (CNT) is now part of English Partnerships (EP). Although no specific percentage of its resources is set aside for affordable housing, EP has provided, and will continue to provide, land at nil or low cost for rented and low cost housing. Over the last three years, EP has provided nearly 20 hectares of land resulting in the construction of 597 affordable housing units. Further major schemes are in the pipeline which could give rise to another 1,000 over the next few years.

Electoral Reform

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what mechanisms he has put in place (a) to review recommendations under the Jenkins report and (b) to assess whether changes might be made to the electoral system for the House.

Alan Whitehead: In our manifesto, which sets out our intentions for this Parliament, we said we would review our experience of the new voting systems for the devolved Administrations, the European Parliament, and the London Assembly along with the recommendations of the Jenkins report to assess whether changes might be made to the electoral system for the House of Commons. That remains our intention. The timing and structure of any review has yet to be decided.

East Coast Main Line

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what is the basis of the appointment by the Strategic Rail Authority of consultants to examine the future of the East Coast Line; what is the remit of the consultants; what is the deadline for their conclusions; what are the implications for the future of the franchise on the route; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: There has been no new appointment to examine the future of the East Coast Line. The Strategic Rail Authority announced on 24 August that W. S. Atkins Consultants Ltd. had been awarded the contract to ascertain the need for, and viability of, a new high speed line between London and Scotland. The feasibility study will also establish possible route options and is expected to take a year to complete. The need remains to press ahead with the planned upgrade of the East Coast Main Line as the high speed line, if approved, would be a project for 2010 onwards.

West Coast Main Line

Russell Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what action he has taken to ensure that Phase II of the upgrade of the West Coast Main Line will go ahead.

David Jamieson: holding answer 19 October 2001
	Work on the West Coast Main Line upgrade will continue, and we are discussing with the administrators and the Strategic Rail Authority the best way of carrying it forward, without prejudice to the outcome of the public inquiries into specific elements of the project. The Government remain committed to providing a revitalised rail network in the UK, and the upgrade of the West Coast Main Line is an integral part of that commitment. It will not be put at risk by Railtrack going into administration.

Homelessness

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what estimate he has made of the number of homeless people in each of the last three years.

Sally Keeble: The number of households accepted by local authorities in England under the homelessness provisions of the 1985 and 1996 Housing Acts as being eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless and in priority need, was as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
		
		
			 199899 104,150 
			 19992000 106,130 
			 200001 114,350 
		
	
	Source:
	DTLR P1(E) housing return (quarterly)
	National and regional information on local authorities' activity under statutory homelessness provisions is summarised in a quarterly Statistical Release published by the Department. Copies are available in the Library, and also via the Department's website. The latest edition, published on 12 September, presents statistics up to the end of June 2001.

Urban Summit

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what progress has been made in organising an Urban Summit in 2002; and what budget has been allocated by his Department for this event.

Sally Keeble: Planning for the Urban Summit has already begun. My officials are currently considering options for venues, speakers and partners. The Summit is to take place in the autumn of 2002, in the next financial year, for which budgets have not yet been allocated.

Urban Task Force

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will estimate the expenditure made by his Department in implementing the recommendations of the Urban Task Force.

Sally Keeble: Recommendations of the Urban Task Force are being implemented by DTLR and other Government Departments in numerous ways. This involves both new and existing programmes and initiatives as well as fiscal measures. Many recommendations are implemented through guidance to other bodies or through reorientation of existing policy. Therefore it is not possible to identify the proportion of DTLR spending specifically relevant to implementation of these recommendations.

Urban Task Force

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the recommendations of the Urban Task Force which have been implemented to date.

Sally Keeble: The Annex to the Urban White Paper lists the 105 recommendations of the Urban Task Force and the Government's response to them, including how we have taken them forward.
	Many of the task force recommendations were incorporated into the Urban White Paper. DTLR's website includes an Urban White Paper Implementation Plan which provides an account of progress to date and the key things we aim to achieve over the next two years.

Watersports (River Thames)

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what guidance the Port of London Authority issues to organisations facilitating canoeing on the River Thames; and who is the member of staff in the Authority responsible for non-powered craft using the River Thames.

David Jamieson: I understand that the Port of London Authority publishes a number of brochures and notices to inform commercial and recreational users of the river Thames on matters that the PLA considers important for the general safety and well being of users of the tidal river Thames. An expanded website that will include this and other relevant information is in the process of being developed for promulgation in the New Year.
	The navigational byelaws are enforced for all the tideway users and no particular member of staff is charged with the responsibility for non-powered craft. The Harbour Master in the upper district and the lower district is warranted to uphold the regulations within the byelaws as appropriate.

Watersports (River Thames)

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what action the Port of London Authority is taking to encourage watersports on the River Thames; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: I understand that the Port of London Authority (PLA) is a member of the organising committees of the Thames Festival, Thames Traditional Rowing Association and the Boat Race; it is also a Thames Watermen's Cutter owner, providing its cutter for use by local youth groups in the Royal Victoria Dock under the auspices of the London borough of Newham recreation department and entering it for various cutter races.
	The Port of London Authority also manages the navigational control of all of the river events and regattas in the calendar held between Gravesend and Teddington, numbering some 300 events annually. These include the Varsity Boat Race, the Heads of the River Races, the various Thames Watermen's Cutter races, the Transport on Water Barge Driving Race, Doggett's Coat and Badge Wager and the Great River Race, which takes place in September each year.

Planning Applications

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what advice is issued to local authorities in respect of adjudicating on planning applications in cases where different planning policy guidance notes appear to imply contradictory verdicts on a given application; and if it is his policy that some PPGs have higher priority than others.

Sally Keeble: All planning applications must be determined in accordance with the development plan for the area unless material considerations indicate otherwise. Local planning authorities must take account of national policy, set out in Planning Policy Guidance notes (PPGs), in preparing their development plans. PPGs may also be material to decisions on individual planning applications.
	General advice to local planning authorities on material considerations is given in PPG1 'General Policy and Principles'. In the first instance it is for authorities, as decision-makers, to decide what considerations are material in any particular case and what weight to put on them. Ultimately, these are matters for the Courts.

Ebley Wharf, Stroud

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if his Department will call in the proposal to build on the flood plains at Ebley Wharf, Stroud.

Sally Keeble: holding answer 18 October 2001
	I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 15 October 2001, Official Report, column 882W.

Park Homes Working Party

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to introduce legislation to give effect to the report of the Park Homes Working Party; and if he will make a statement.

Sally Keeble: The report of the Park Homes working party made recommendations for changes to the legislation relating to mobile homes. We have consulted on, and are considering, the Working Party's recommendations.

Highways and Transport SSA

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what his estimate is of the standard spending assessment for highways and transport per mile of (a) principal and (b) non-principal road in each county of England in each of the last three years.

Alan Whitehead: holding answer 18 October 2001
	A table showing the standard spending assessment for highway maintenance per mile of principal and non-principal road, in each shire county in England for each of the three years 19992000, 200001 and 200102 has been placed in the Library. The highway maintenance SSA is determined mainly by an authority's length of roads together with the average traffic flow for that authority.
	It is not possible to provide a similar table for the other transport elements (concessionary fares and bus support outside London) included in the Environmental, Protective and Cultural Services block as these elements are not separately identifiable within this block.

Planning

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to improve the arrangements for declaration of interests on local authorities with specific reference to the planning process.

Sally Keeble: holding answer 19 October 2001
	The new national Model Code of Conduct will clarify existing arrangements for the declaration of a member's interests. It will apply to all business conducted by members of local authorities, including planning, and is due to be laid before Parliament in the next few weeks.

High Hedges

Tom Levitt: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to reintroduce measures to control high hedges.

Sally Keeble: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Stafford (Mr. Kidney) on 15 October 2001, Official Report, column 884W.

NATS

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the Civil Aviation radar installations are in Scotland and which ones are controlled outwith Scotland; when control of the Civil Aviation radar installations moved from Scotland; where these installations are being controlled from; and what plans the (a) CAA and (b) NATS have to transfer control of other radar installations from Scotland.

David Jamieson: holding answer 19 October 2001
	National Air Traffic Services Ltd. (NATS), and not the Civil Aviation Authority, owns and controls the civil aviation en-route radar installations in Scotland. These are located at Aberdeen, Allenshill, Lowther Hill, Stornoway, Sumburgh and Tiree.
	Information regarding the control of these radar sites should be sought direct from the Chief Executive's Office, NATS, One Kemble Street, London, WC2B 4AP.

Foundations

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the management information systems used by Foundations; and when it is planned to be fully implemented.

Sally Keeble: My Department contracted Foundations, the national co-ordinating body for home improvement agencies, to develop a single management information system to assist the monitoring and benchmarking of agencies' performance. The system has now been fully implemented and, on 20 September, Foundations distributed performance data for the year ended 31 March 2001 to all grant-funded agencies and their sponsoring local authorities.

Sheltered Accommodation

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how he will ensure that sheltered accommodation tenants do not lose out financially when the care component is separated from a rent arrangement.

Sally Keeble: We are committed to providing local authorities with sufficient resources in the new Supporting People grant to enable them to keep support charges levied on existing residents of sheltered housing at the same level in real terms across the transition to Supporting People in April 200304. Detailed policy proposals for long term charging and means-testing arrangements under Supporting People were published in a consultation document on 3 January 2001. A further paper, carrying forward work on this issue in the light of responses to the consultation, will be published shortly.

Supporting People Initiative

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what account he has taken of the age profile and social grouping of areas as part of a mapping exercise in advance of the introduction of the Supporting People initiative.

Sally Keeble: All local authorities are currently mapping the existing supply of housing-related support in their area. This will provide the information to put in place contracts to continue existing services.
	Local authorities will be asked to consider their strategic priorities for housing-related support in light of local needs, including age profile and social grouping. This will be presented as a local Shadow Supporting People Strategy in September 2002.

Supporting People Initiative

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what action he has taken to ensure in advance of the introduction of the Supporting People initiatives that existing standards of provision and care will be maintained.

Sally Keeble: Supporting People will introduce consistent quality standards across the housing-related support sector. All providers of services funded by Supporting People grant will report regularly on key performance indicators, and the quality and appropriateness of the service being provided will be thoroughly evaluated at the contract review.

Warehouse, Distribution and Storage Premises

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  if he will make it his policy to ensure that building regulations limit the compartment size for single storey warehouse, distribution and storage premises;
	(2)  if he will make it his policy to require all warehouse, distribution and storage premises to use non-combustible cores in the sandwich panels used in such buildings;
	(3)  what estimate he has made of the cost of requiring new warehouse, storage and distribution buildings to install sprinkler systems;
	(4)  if he will make it his policy to require the installation of sprinklers in warehouse, distribution and storage premises where compartment sizes exceed 2,000 sq. m.

Alan Whitehead: I do not currently plan to adopt a policy, in either the Building Regulations or the Approved Documents that support them, to limit the compartment size in single storey warehouse, distribution and storage premises.
	Nor do I currently plan to adopt a policy, in either the Building Regulations or the Approved Documents that support them, to require the installation of sprinklers in all warehouse, distribution and storage premises where there are compartment sizes in excess of 2000 square metres.
	Guidance on fire safety measures that will meet the requirements of the Building Regulations is given in Approved Document B (Fire safety). The 2000 edition of Approved Document B suggests that the compartment size of an unsprinklered single storey retail premises should not exceed 2000 square metres.
	The decision to limit the guidance on the use of sprinklers in the 2000 edition of Approved Document B to single storey retail buildings, as opposed to warehouse, distribution and storage premises, was based on the fact that retail buildings have the greater potential for loss of life. This is because of the large numbers of people that may be present within a retail building, the fact that they will generally be unfamiliar with their surroundings and the levels of managerial control that can be placed on members of the public is somewhat different to that which can be placed on staff in a warehouse type building. The decision to provide such guidance on single storey retail buildings was arrived at following the undertaking of a full Regulatory Impact Assessment.
	Owing to the recognised fact that the level of risk to occupants and fire fighters can increase with height, the Approved Document does already suggest maximum compartment volumes, both with and without sprinklers, for multi-storey storage type buildings.
	No estimate has been made of the cost of requiring the installation of sprinklers in all new warehouses, storage and distribution buildings. This would form part of a Regulatory Impact Assessment should such a proposal be considered in the future.
	I do not propose to adopt the policy of requiring all warehouse, distribution and storage premises to use only non-combustible core sandwich panels as this is a matter for consideration on a case-by case-basis. The 2000 edition of Approved Document B offers guidance on the use of sandwich panels within buildings. It offers design recommendations with regard to the selection of the type of panel core and its associated jointing and fixing system. It goes on to suggest that a risk assessment approach should be adopted to identify the appropriate solution.
	The Building Regulations are applicable to most building work that is undertaken in England and Wales, typically the erection or extension of a building. Fire precautions in warehouses in use are normally governed by the Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997, as amended, and, where the warehouse has been designated as a factory, the Fire Precautions Act 1971. Fire safety legislation is concerned with life safety, and sprinklers will be required if they are necessary for the protection of employees or other occupants of the building.

Warehouse, Distribution and Storage Premises

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what estimate he has made of the cost to the public since 1990 of fighting fires in warehouse, distribution and storage premises.

Alan Whitehead: This information is not available centrally. Research into the cost of fires has been recently undertaken by the Home Office and is now being taken forward by the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions.
	However, the current model does not allow for the cost of fires in warehouse, distribution and storage premises to be separately identified from the broader category of fires in buildings other than dwellings.

Regional Air Services

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will exempt UK regional air services from airport passenger duty; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Boateng: I have been asked to reply.
	Decisions on taxation are considered annually as part of the Chancellor's overall Budget judgment.

Airport Passenger Duty

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how much the Government received from air passengers in airport passenger duty in each of the last three years.

Paul Boateng: I have been asked to reply.
	Receipts from Air Passenger Duty for the years 199899 and 19992000 are shown in HM Customs and Excise Annual Report 19992000 Table P.
	Receipts from Air Passenger Duty for the year 200001 can be found in the National Statistics publication Financial Statistics Table 2.1D.